[Oropuche fever outbreak in Bagazan, San Martin, Peru: epidemiological evaluation, gastrointestinal and hemorrhagic manifestations].

INTRODUCTION: In Peru, the first outbreak of Oropuche fever (OROF) occurred in Iquitos during 1992, as dissemination of oropuche virus from Brazil. The OROF causes expenses in public health, loss of labour and academic activities and social suffering. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the outbreak of OROF in Bagazan community of San Martin Department, and comparison of the gastrointestinal and hemorrhagic clinical manifestations with those occurred in Iquitos and Brazil. METHODS: The sudden onset of an acute fever syndrome in many people of Bagazan, little village with 1082 residents, happened in may 2010. The symptoms and signs were registered in a standardized pattern. Blood samples were sent to the laboratory of the National Health Institute in Lima. RESULTS: The diagnosis was confirmed in 108 patients. The clinical manifestations were fever of 38° C, headache, muscle and joint pains, congestion of conjunctiva, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some cases presented nose, gum and/ or vaginal bleeding. The gastrointestinal manifestations were more frequent than those of the Iquitos cases. CONCLUSIONS: The outbreak showed the dissemination of OROF to Peru, because of various favorable conditions. We discuss the hypothesis of the increase of gastrointestinal and hemorrhagic manifestations, including ecological, immunity, individual and viral characteristics.