Child encounters sloth while ziplining in Costa Rica
On March 13, a child was ziplining through the rainforest of La Fortuna, Costa Rica, when he collided with a sloth that was clinging to the cable. (Go.Adventure Arenal Park, via Storyful)
Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an Important Health Alert Network advisory after more than 8,000 cases of Oropouche virus, or sloth fever, have been reported this year. Florida has reported 20 travel-associated cases of the virus, nine of which were reported in the last week. According to the CDC, the virus is spread primarily through the bite of infected midges, small stinging insects. Mosquitoes can also carry the virus.
A deadly virus known as “sloth fever” has been causing a surge in cases in the United States and Europe, putting health officials on alert.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a major Health Alert Network advisory after more than 8,000 reported cases of Oropouche virus (sloth fever), two deaths, and five cases of infection resulting in fetal death or congenital defects between January 1 and August 1, 2024.
Florida has reported 20 travel-related cases of the virus, nine of which were reported in the last week.
The virus is spread primarily through the bite of infected midges, small biting insects, according to the CDC, but mosquitoes can also carry the virus.
Three-toed sloth, Amazon, Brazil, South America (Photo by Hoberman Collection/Universal Image Group via Getty Images)
Oropush virus transmission usually occurs in forested areas between insects and non-human hosts such as sloths, birds and rodents, hence the name “sloth fever.”
Oropouche virus cases
Countries where cases have been reported include Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Cuba.
Travel-related cases have also been confirmed in the United States and Europe, with travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil testing positive for the virus.
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The CDC said it expects cases to be reported from other countries.
What is the Oloporchis virus?
According to the CDC, the Oropouche virus was first detected in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955 and is widespread in the Amazon basin. Outbreaks have been reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama and Peru. In 2014, one child was infected in Haiti.
The CDC said the current outbreak in 2024 is occurring in endemic and new areas outside the Amazon basin. Although travel-associated cases have been identified in the United States, there is currently no evidence of local transmission within the United States or its territories.
Humans can become infected while visiting forested areas, likely contributing to the introduction of the virus into urban environments.
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People exposed to infected midges or mosquitoes are at highest risk of developing the disease, but risk factors for the more severe form of Oropouche virus disease have not been clearly defined.
Earlier this year, Brazil reported the deaths of two healthy non-pregnant women and five pregnant women with evidence of vertical transmission of the virus to their fetuses, including fetal deaths and congenital anomalies.
The CDC has warned that the virus can be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy.
People traveling to areas affected by Oropouche virus should take precautions to avoid midge and mosquito bites during travel and for 3 weeks after travel, or for 1 week after symptom onset if infected, to reduce further spread of the virus or potential introduction into unaffected areas of the United States.
Symptoms of the “Sloth Fever” Virus
According to health officials, about 60 percent of people infected with the Oropauche virus develop symptoms. The incubation period is usually three to 10 days.
Early clinical symptoms resemble those caused by dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses, with acute fever, chills, headache, muscle and joint pain.
Other symptoms include sore eyes, sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, ashy eyes, conjunctival redness, and abdominal pain.
Initial symptoms usually subside after a few days, but a high percentage of people (about 70%) may experience recurrent symptoms days to weeks after the initial illness has cleared up.
The disease is usually mild, but it is estimated that less than 5% of patients may experience symptoms such as severe occipital pain, dizziness, confusion, lethargy, photophobia, nausea, vomiting, nuchal stiffness, and nystagmus.
Those at risk of more severe disease are likely to include those at risk of severe disease from other vector-transmitted viral infections, such as those aged 65 years or older, and those with underlying medical conditions such as immunosuppression, hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for Oropauche virus disease.
Patients with more severe symptoms should be hospitalized for close observation and supportive care. Pregnant women with clinical evidence of Oropauche virus infection should be monitored throughout their pregnancy and liveborn infants should be carefully evaluated, the CDC noted.
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Information in this article comes from a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC collected information from the Pan American Health Organization, the World Health Organization and the Florida Department of Health. It also used a study on Oropouche virus published in The Lancet Infectious Disease.
