Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help prevent cases of Oropouche virus; and what discussions he has had with devolved Administrations on that virus.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continuously monitors the global epidemiology of the Oropouche virus disease, and assesses risk to the United Kingdom’s population. The UKHSA works to reduce risk through the provision of travel advice to both travellers and healthcare professionals, including through the National Travel Health Network and Centre and through awareness raising through media engagement, when appropriate.

The UKHSA has undertaken specific work to raise the awareness of the Oropouche virus disease among healthcare professionals, including targeted communication and discussion with professional obstetrics and gynaecology networks. UKHSA subject matter experts have contributed to publications in scientific and medical journals to raise clinician awareness. The UKHSA has also provided expert commentary to media outlets, to ensure that accurate travel health advice is included in media articles.

Molecular testing for acute Oropouche virus disease is available in the UK through the UKHSA’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL), in Porton Down. Following the increase in cases in the Americas in 2024, the RIPL has also been performing active surveillance through testing samples submitted for dengue diagnosis, where the patient has travelled to a region affected by the Oropouche virus disease and subsequently tests negative for dengue. No imported cases have been detected in the UK to date. Epidemiological alerts published by the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation have been shared with the devolved administration’s public health organisations