Key points
- Oropouche viral RNA has been detected in the semen and vaginal secretions of patients with Oropouche virus disease. Culturable virus was also detected in semen.
- CDC has interim recommendations for how to counsel patients who travel to an area with a Level 1 or 2 Travel Health Notice for Oropouche on possible sexual transmission.
- CDC does not currently recommend testing a person's serum, urine, semen, vaginal, or other genital secretions to determine the potential risk of sexually transmitting Oropouche virus.
What we know
There have been no reports of transmission of Oropouche virus through sexual activity to date. Viruses (e.g., Zika virus, Ebola virus) in semen and vaginal secretions have been associated with sexual transmission of other infectious diseases.
Semen
Recent publications described two male patients with Oropouche virus disease who had virus and viral RNA detected in bodily fluids, including semen.
- For one patient, Oropouche viral RNA was detected in semen on days 16, 32, 58, and 87 after symptom onset. Culturable virus was recovered from semen on day 16 but could not be recovered on day 32 (viral culture not attempted on day 58).
- The second patient had RNA detected in semen on days 17 and 32 after symptom onset but virus could not be cultured.
Vaginal secretions
Another recent publication describes a patient who had viral RNA detected in bodily fluids, including vaginal secretions. Oropouche RNA was detected at low levels in vaginal secretions on days 10, 14, and 20 after symptom onset. Virus could not be cultured from these samples.
What CDC is doing
CDC will continue to review all available data, work closely with partners to obtain additional data regarding the likelihood of sexual transmission, and update these interim prevention recommendations as needed.
What we don't know
Currently, we do not know the following about Oropouche virus and possible sexual transmission.
Virus in bodily fluids
- How often infection results in virus being present in semen, how long virus or viral RNA is present in semen following infection, how much virus could be present in semen, and if virus can be intermittently shed in semen.
- How often infection results in virus or viral RNA being present in vaginal fluids, how long virus or viral RNA is present in vaginal fluids following infection, if culturable virus could be present in vaginal fluids, and if virus can be intermittently shed in vaginal fluids.
Sexual transmission
If the virus can be transmitted through sex, and if so, what factors might increase the risk of transmission (e.g., type of sexual activity, age, timing of sexual activity relative to menses, symptoms present at time of acute illness) or possible effect on the incubation period.
Pregnancy and fertility
- If sexual transmission is associated with a risk of vertical transmission or a differential risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to vector-borne transmission.
- If infection has any effect on fertility.
How to counsel patients
Providers should use the following interim recommendations to counsel patients.
Any traveler who is concerned about Oropouche
Given the limited information on the risk of possible sexual transmission, any travelers (male or female) to an area with a for Oropouche and their partners who are concerned about transmitting Oropouche virus through sex, can consider using condoms or abstaining from sex during travel and for 6 weeks after returning from travel.
Any traveler with symptoms of Oropouche
Travelers (male or female) to an area with a for Oropouche who experienced symptoms compatible with Oropouche virus disease during or within 2 weeks of returning from travel can consider using condoms or abstaining from sex for at least 6 weeks following symptom onset.
- Oropouche testing should be recommended in suspected cases (contact your state or local health department for assistance).
Males with confirmed diagnosis of Oropouche
Males who are diagnosed with Oropouche virus disease should use condoms or abstain from sex for at least 6 weeks following the symptom onset date.
Females with confirmed diagnosis of Oropouche
For females who are diagnosed with Oropouche virus disease, data are insufficient to make a recommendation about whether they should use condoms or abstain from sex. Females who are diagnosed with Oropouche virus disease and who are concerned about transmitting Oropouche virus through sex can consider using condoms or abstaining from sex during travel and for 6 weeks after returning from travel.
Semen donors diagnosed with or possibly exposed to Oropouche virus
In the absence of more data, advise potential semen donors with confirmed or suspected Oropouche virus disease, or who might have been exposed to Oropouche virus, to defer semen donation for at least 6 weeks after symptom onset and consider deferring donation for at least 6 weeks after return from travel if asymptomatic.
- Encourage potential semen donors to talk to their donation center about their eligibility.
- For more information, please see regarding Oropouche virus and considerations for donor eligibility determinations for human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps).
Testing
There are no approved tests available to look for the presence of virus or viral RNA in bodily fluids other than serum or cerebrospinal fluid.
CDC does not currently recommend testing a person's serum, urine, semen, vaginal, or other genital secretions to determine the potential risk of transmitting Oropouche virus through sex for the following reasons:
- A negative test result could be falsely reassuring. This can happen when:
- Molecular testing is performed after the virus or viral RNA is no longer in the blood but virus could still be present in other bodily fluids (e.g., semen) or when antibody testing is performed early after infection when the antibody levels are not yet high enough to be detected.
- The result is a false negative.
- There could be intermittent virus shedding in serum or vaginal secretions, in which case a person could test negative at one point but still carry the virus and shed it again in the future.
- Castilletti C, Huits R, Mantovani RP, Accordini S, Alladio F, Gobbi F. . Emerg Infect Dis. 2024;30(12):2684-2686. doi: 10.3201/eid3012.241470.
- Iglói Z, Soochit W, Munnink BBO, Anas AA, von Eije KJ, van der Linden A, et al. . Emerg Infect Dis. 2025;31(1):205-206. doi: 10.3201/eid3101.241452.
- Matucci A, Pomari E, Mori A, Accordini S, Gianesini N, Passarelli Mantovani R, et al. . Viruses. 2025;17(6):852. doi: 10.3390/v17060852.
- Vita S, Colavita F, Maffongelli G, Carletti F, Scorzolini L, Matusali G, et al. . Travel Med Infect Dis. 2025;66:102854. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2025.102854.