Surge in Cases Linked to Travelers from Cuba
The United States has recently reported a surge in cases of “sloth fever,” officially known as Oropouche virus, with more than 20 new cases confirmed this week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that 21 travelers returning from Cuba were found to be infected.
Of the new cases, only one was reported in New York, while the remaining 20 were identified in Florida. Three of the travelers required hospitalization due to severe symptoms.
Origin and transmission
The Oropouche virus was first detected in 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago and earned the nickname “sloth fever” after being found in a three-toed sloth. Typically prevalent in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, the virus is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected midges or mosquitoes. However, it can also be spread by sloths, primates, domestic and wild birds, and rodents. To date, there is no evidence of insect transmission within the U.S.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Sloth fever manifests with a range of symptoms, including fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, stiff joints, vomiting, sensitivity to light, dizziness, diarrhea, extreme abdominal pain, and hemorrhaging. While patients may require hospitalization, they generally recover without lasting symptoms. The virus’s incubation period ranges from three to ten days, and symptoms typically last less than a week. However, in up to 60 percent of cases, symptoms can reoccur days or weeks later.
Neuroinvasive disease and mortality
The virus can also lead to neuroinvasive disease, causing inflammation around the brain and spinal cord membranes. Approximately 4 percent of patients develop neurological symptoms following their initial fever. Though there are no vaccines or specific treatments available for sloth fever, fatalities are rare.
This year, over 8,000 cases have been reported across Latin America and the Caribbean, with significant outbreaks in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Cuba. The virus has also been linked to the deaths of two healthy young individuals in Brazil. Travel-associated cases have been reported in Europe, involving individuals returning from Cuba and Brazil.
Alerts and advisories
In July, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert concerning cases in Brazil associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal deaths and birth defects. Last month, the CDC issued an advisory to U.S. public health authorities, highlighting an increase in the virus in the Americas region.
Prevention measures
The CDC emphasizes that the best way to protect against sloth fever is to prevent insect bites. Pregnant women are advised to consider deferring travel to areas experiencing outbreaks.
Stay informed and take necessary precautions to safeguard your health against this emerging threat.