Mapping the Evidence for Oropouche Virus to Inform Research Prioritisation.
7 affiliations
- 1UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Southwest Regional Laboratory and Severn Infection Services, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK.
- 2Evidence and Knowledge Division, Knowledge and Library Services, Research, UKHSA, London, UK.
- 3Centre for Guidelines, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, London, UK.
- 4Centre for Climate and Health Security, CSO Group, UKHSA, London, UK.
- 5Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
- 6CSO Private Office, UKHSA, London, UK.
- 7Southend-on-Sea City Council, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK.
Abstract
Oropouche virus (OROV) infection has gained increasing public health attention due to the ongoing outbreaks in South and Central America. The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists OROV as a priority pathogen for epidemic and pandemic preparedness. This work aimed to identify and categorise the available evidence on OROV to inform research prioritisation. We conducted a rapid mapping review (search date: up to 5 June 2025) to identify primary studies on OROV and categorised these by area of research, study design, and geographic region using a pre-defined framework. Included studies were displayed in an interactive evidence gap map (EGM) to identify any evidence gaps. In total, 269 primary studies on OROV were included and mapped into the EGM. Of these, the majority of data and findings were reported from South America, Central America and the Caribbean, reflecting the geographical epidemiology of OROV. The majority of studies were observational and descriptive, based on specific outbreaks. Limited evidence was found on vector surveillance, viral pathogenesis, diagnostics and immune correlates of protection. No experimental studies on potential therapeutics or vaccines conducted in humans were identified. The findings from our mapping review and EGM highlight the utility of this methodology to rapidly identify gaps in scientific evidence for emerging or re-emerging pathogens with outbreak potential. The EGM can be used solely, or in conjunction with other prioritisation tools, in order to focus investment and research efforts towards priority topics.
Related
- Teratogenic Effects and Outcomes of Congenital Oropouche Virus Infection: Current Evidence, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, and Research Priorities.
- Mapping Research on Warm-Up in Athletes: A Scoping Review with Evidence Gap Map
- Understanding midwifery workforce recruitment and retention: a realist review protocol for synthesising international evidence to inform UK workforce strategy.
- Mapping spatial colleague connectivity patterns from individual-level registry data to inform regional pandemic interventions
- From evidence to action: a narrative literature review to inform cross-border one health implementation in the Kavango-Zambezi region
BibTeX
@article{atabani2026mapping,
title = {{Mapping the Evidence for Oropouche Virus to Inform Research Prioritisation.}},
author = {Sowsan F Atabani and Matthew Bosworth and Amy Bobbins and Beti Evans and Zalaya Simmons and Nicola Pearce-Smith and Julia A Tree and Charles Dearman and Yper Hall and Daphne Duval},
journal = {Reviews in medical virology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/rmv.70222},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925562},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mapping the Evidence for Oropouche Virus to Inform Research Prioritisation.
AU - Sowsan F Atabani
AU - Matthew Bosworth
AU - Amy Bobbins
AU - Beti Evans
AU - Zalaya Simmons
AU - Nicola Pearce-Smith
AU - Julia A Tree
AU - Charles Dearman
AU - Yper Hall
AU - Daphne Duval
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Reviews in medical virology
DO - 10.1002/rmv.70222
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42925562
AB - Oropouche virus (OROV) infection has gained increasing public health attention due to the ongoing outbreaks in South and Central America. The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists OROV as a priority pathogen for epidemic and pandemic preparedness. This work aimed to identify and categorise the available evidence on OROV to inform research prioritisation. We conducted a rapid mapping review (search date: up to 5 June 2025) to identify primary studies on OROV and categorised these by area of research, study design, and geographic region using a pre-defined framework. Included studies were displayed in an interactive evidence gap map (EGM) to identify any evidence gaps. In total, 269 primary studies on OROV were included and mapped into the EGM. Of these, the majority of data and findings were reported from South America, Central America and the Caribbean, reflecting the geographical epidemiology of OROV. The majority of studies were observational and descriptive, based on specific outbreaks. Limited evidence was found on vector surveillance, viral pathogenesis, diagnostics and immune correlates of protection. No experimental studies on potential therapeutics or vaccines conducted in humans were identified. The findings from our mapping review and EGM highlight the utility of this methodology to rapidly identify gaps in scientific evidence for emerging or re-emerging pathogens with outbreak potential. The EGM can be used solely, or in conjunction with other prioritisation tools, in order to focus investment and research efforts towards priority topics.
SN - 1052-9276
SN - 1099-1654
ER -