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A debilitating virus that originates in sloths and is spread by midges has been reported for the first time in Europe, officials have confirmed.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 19 imported cases of Oropauche virus were reported in Europe in June and July: 12 in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany.
The disease is spread primarily by mosquito and other insect bites and affects pink-throated sloths, non-human primates and birds.
The virus belongs to the same family of diseases as Zika and dengue fever, and there is currently no vaccine to treat it.
Dr Danny Altman, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, told the Telegraph: “We should definitely be worried. Things are evolving and may become unstoppable.”
To date, outbreaks of the virus have been reported in several countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, with specific outbreaks recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and most recently Cuba in 2024.
Eighteen of the documented cases in Europe are reported to have recently traveled to Cuba, and one Italian case is reported to have traveled to Brazil.
Oropouche can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, and sometimes more severe symptoms. These symptoms subside after four days. The ECDC said fatal outcomes are extremely rare and recovery from the disease is common.
According to a July 25 report in The Lancet, the first deaths from oropouche were reported in Brazil, involving two young women with no other underlying conditions.
Between January and mid-July, more than 8,000 cases were recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Cuba.
Due to the large number of cases reported in the Americas, the risk of infection for EU citizens travelling to or residing in affected areas is currently assessed as medium by ECDC.
European authorities advise people travelling to affected areas to take personal protective measures to reduce the risk of being bitten during both outdoor activities and indoors, including using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
