331 - Lee County Mosquito Control District’s Response to Imported Oropouche Virus in Lee County, Florida.

Abstract: In August 2024, the Florida Department of Health reported the first travel-related Oropouche Virus cases in the United States. The infection was believed to originate from Cuba where the primary vector, Culicoides paraensis, had not been documented. There has been growing concern from State of Florida officials regarding human Oropouche fever transmission given the steady travel from Cuba to Florida and the uncertainty of the vector in Cuba. Furthermore, C. paraensis is documented in Florida but the biology is not well known and there are “no known control strategies” for this or any other common Culicoides species in Florida. Given Florida’s position as a location frequently hosting visitors or residents originating from South America and the Caribbean, public health officials must always be prepared for the emergence of new diseases. Thus, Lee County Mosquito Control District developed a disease response plan against Culicoides and the potential threat of Oropouche Virus if it were to be introduced into Lee County, Florida.