Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory to clinicians and public health officials to be on the lookout for potential cases of Oropouche virus (also known as “sloth fever”) in the U.S. So what is Oropouche virus?
Oropouche (pronounced ol'opush), named after the village where it originated, was first detected in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. Today, the virus is widely reported in the Amazon basin, South America and some Caribbean countries, according to the CDC.
More than 8,000 cases of the virus have been reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Cuba so far in 2024. However, the first death from the virus was reported in Brazil in July, raising concerns.
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The Pan American Health Organization recently released a report highlighting concerns about possible mother-to-child transmission after five cases involving fetal deaths and birth defects.
Although travel-related cases have been identified in the United States, the CDC said there is no evidence of local transmission.
The virus is usually transmitted by midges, small flying insects, and occasionally certain types of mosquitoes. Sloths are one of the common animals infected by insects, hence the virus's colloquial name “sloth fever.”
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According to the CDC, 60% of people infected with Oropauche experience symptoms including fever, chills, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue and abdominal pain.
Because the onset of symptoms is similar to other viruses, such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya, CDC encourages health care providers to consider this infection when treating patients who have recently been in areas where cases of Oropauche have been recorded. Diagnostic testing can be obtained through local health departments.
Currently, there are no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines for Oropauche virus disease.
The CDC said travelers heading to countries where Oropauche infections have been confirmed should take extra precautions to avoid insect bites, especially pregnant travelers.
