As a veterinary professional, you're likely familiar with the major zoonotic diseases that pose risks to both animals and humans. However, a lesser-known but increasingly significant threat is emerging from the tropical regions of South and Central America—the Oropouche virus (OROV). This arbovirus, primarily transmitted by biting midges, has the potential to cause widespread illness, not just in human populations but also with implications for animal health and veterinary practices. Oropouche virus is spread to people primarily by the bite of infected biting midges (a type of small fly) and mosquitoes. According to the CDC, the virus is transmitted in forested areas between mosquitoes and non-human vertebrate hosts such as birds, rodents and sloths, which is where its nickname is derived.