More than 20 people returning to the U.S. from Cuba have been infected with an insect-borne virus called Oropouche virus in recent months, according to federal health officials.
Although no deaths have been reported and there is no evidence the virus is spreading in the United States, officials warned doctors to screen all travelers coming from Cuba and South America.
What is the Oropouche virus?
What is the Oropouche virus?
The Oropouche virus, which is native to tropical forests, was first identified in 1955 in a 24-year-old forest worker on the island of Trinidad. The virus is named after a nearby town and wetlands.
This virus is also called sloth fever. Scientists who first investigated the virus found it in a three-toed sloth and believed that they were responsible for its spread among insects and animals.
Symptoms of lazy fever
Symptoms of lazy fever
Sloth fever resembles other mosquito-borne illnesses, such as dengue fever or chikungunya fever, making it difficult to identify. According to the New York State Department of Health, some of its symptoms include:
- Fever
- Shivers
- Headache
- Muscle aches and pains
- Joint stiffness
According to the CDC, other symptoms may include:
- Sensitivity to light
- Dizziness
- Pain behind the eyes
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash
Symptoms usually last less than a week and may return after a few days or even weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people infected with Oropouche recovered within a few days to a month. One in 20 patients develops serious illnesses such as meningitis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis, or hemorrhage.
Treatment and prevention of lazy fever
Treatment and prevention of lazy fever
The CDC also states that there is currently no vaccine to treat Oropouche and that the only prevention technique is to avoid insect bites.
You can do this by using insect repellent, putting screens on doors and windows and using an outdoor fan to keep insects away, the CDC recommends.
In addition to this, pregnant people have also been advised to avoid travelling to infection areas, including Brazil and Cuba.
How many cases have there been?
How many cases have there been?
The virus has been identified as the cause of large outbreaks in the Amazon region, where it already existed, and in some new areas of South America and the Caribbean. Around 8,000 local cases have been reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba and Peru.
However, some travelers have been diagnosed with the virus in the United States and Europe. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 21 cases — 20 in Florida and one in New York. All of the cases had occurred in Cuba. European health officials said they found 19 cases, all among travelers.
How is lazy fever transmitted?
How is lazy fever transmitted?
This viral disease, Oropouche, is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The virus is transmitted in forested areas between mosquitoes and non-humans such as birds, sloths and rodents. People visiting these areas can carry the virus into urban settings.
Why is Oropouche called sloth virus or sloth fever?
Why is Oropouche called sloth virus or sloth fever?
Sloth virus is also known as “sloth fever” and is found in areas where sloths are prevalent. Scientists believe the virus has a reservoir in pale-throated sloths, and non-human primates and some birds play a key role in transmitting the disease through mosquito bites.
What don’t we know?
What don’t we know?
Oroopouche is not a new virus, it has been around for decades, but we didn’t know much about it. The Lancet medical journal called it a “mysterious threat” earlier this month. Scientists also have no idea about the current outbreak. It is an RNA virus and its genome is made up of multiple segments.
Stephen Graham, a professor of virology at the University of Cambridge, explained that the Oropouche virus is “capable of mutating rapidly” and prone to mixing and matching different segments (a process similar to shuffling two decks of cards known as “reassortment”) if “you are unlucky enough to be infected with two different strains.”
Are there any other concerns?
Are there any other concerns?
Authorities in Brazil are investigating reports that the infection could be passed from a pregnant woman to a fetus, drawing similarities to what we saw during the Zika virus outbreak nearly a decade ago.
CDS advises pregnant women to avoid travel to Cuba and suggests all travelers take steps to prevent insect bites by using insect repellents and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
First published: August 29, 2024 | 15:40 IS
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