# Detection of Oropouche and Punta Toro Virus Infections by Enhanced Surveillance, Panama, 2023–2024 **Authors:** Maria Chen-Germán, Claudia González, Dimelza Araúz, Celestino Aguilar, Melanie Vega, Oris Chavarria, Ambar Moreno, Erika Santiago, Danilo Franco, Elimelec Valdespino, Jessica Gondola, Mayla Pinedo, Domicio Espino, Tamara Salcedo, Leticia Franco, Nicanor Obaldía, Blas Armien, Alexander A. Martínez, Brechla Moreno PMC · DOI: 10.3201/eid3201.251224 · Emerging Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-01 ## TL;DR Enhanced surveillance in Panama detected Oropouche and Punta Toro viruses before a major outbreak, showing the need for broader arbovirus testing. ## Contribution Early detection of Oropouche virus and identification of Punta Toro virus through expanded surveillance in Panama. ## Key findings - Oropouche virus was detected 5 months before the 2025 national outbreak. - An additional case of Punta Toro virus was identified through contact tracing. ## Abstract Enhanced arboviral surveillance in Panama revealed an Oropouche virus case, 5 months before the 2025 national outbreak, in samples that tested negative for routinely screened arboviruses. Subsequent contact tracing identified an additional case of Punta Toro virus. Our findings highlight the importance of expanding diagnostic efforts to identify circulating arboviruses. ## Linked entities - **Species:** Panama (taxon 905818) ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** IVNS1ABP (influenza virus NS1A binding protein) [NCBI Gene 10625] {aka ARA3, FLARA3, HSPC068, IMD70, KLHL39, ND1} - **Diseases:** PTV (MESH:D014777), microcephaly (MESH:D008831), weakness (MESH:D018908), frontal-occipital headache (MESH:D006261), fetal loss (MESH:D005315), OROV (MESH:D002044), retro-orbital pain (MESH:D010146), undifferentiated febrile illness (MESH:C580334), febrile illness (MESH:D005334), asthenia (MESH:D001247), dengue (MESH:D003715), chills (MESH:D023341), infection (MESH:D007239), myalgia (MESH:D063806), conjunctivitis (MESH:D003231), arthralgia (MESH:D018771), febrile syndrome (MESH:D000071072), neurologic disease (MESH:D020271) - **Chemicals:** PV942050-2 (-) - **Species:** Chironomus thummi (midge, species) [taxon 7154], Rift Valley fever virus (no rank) [taxon 11588], Dengue virus (no rank) [taxon 12637], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Punta Toro virus (no rank) [taxon 11587], Zika virus (no rank) [taxon 64320], Culicoides paraensis (species) [taxon 1027879], Chikungunya virus (no rank) [taxon 37124], Toscana virus (no rank) [taxon 11590], Phlebovirus (genus) [taxon 11584], Oropouche virus (no rank) [taxon 118655], Panama (genus) [taxon 905818] ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870164/full.md ## Figures 1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870164/full.md ## References 12 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870164/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12870164