Sloth fever is a dangerous and extremely contagious disease spreading rapidly throughout Europe and the US, posing a major threat to people. It has been identified in over 20 people travelling back to the United States from Cuba. With a rapid increase in the number of cases across these regions, health authorities continue to study the nature of the infection and its spread. Meanwhile, here's everything you need to know about sloth fever and how can you prevent it.

What is sloth fever?

Known as the Oropouche virus, sloth fever is classified as an arthropod-borne virus, which means that it infects insects that bite humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), certain mosquito species can also transmit the virus, but it is majorly spread through a species of biting midge called culicoides prariensis. People infected with the fever may experience recurrent symptoms.

Sloth fever can lead to symptoms of common flu. Image courtesy: Freepik

The village where the first case was reported is where the virus gets its name - Oropouche virus. It was discovered in the blood of a 24-year-old forest worker in the Trinidad and Tobago town of Vega de Oropouche in 1955. It is referred to as sloth fever because it was first found in a three-toad sloth and it lives naturally in them.

According to reports, the cases of the Oropouche virus have caused more than 8000 cases in 5 countries during the first 7 months of 2024. The virus took two lives in Brazil and the lives of two unborn children. It continues to spread in some parts of Europe and the United States.

How does the virus spread?

Oropouche virus is spread when an animal or human is bitten by an insect carrying the virus. The species of pinhead-sized midge, Culicoides paraensis, which is widespread throughout much of the Americas, is likely to be the primary carrier of this disease. However, Culex quinquefasciatus and Ochlerotatus serratus mosquito bites can also transmit the virus. There has never been evidence of the virus spreading directly from person to person. It can travel swiftly throughout the body once it enters the bloodstream and can even pass through the blood-brain barrier to enter the central nervous system. It seems to concentrate especially in the liver and brain.

Symptoms of sloth fever

Common symptoms of sloth fever or Oropouche, according to CDC, include the following:

• Sudden onset of fever
• Severe headache
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Sensitivity to light
• Dizziness
• Pain behind the eyes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Rash

While most symptoms last less than a week, somewhere between 2-7 days, these may reoccur a few days or even weeks later. It may even take a month for some people to recover. Some people may develop more serious diseases such as:

• Meningitis or the inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
• Bleeding.

As per the CDC, it is rare for people to die because of Oropouche virus.

Is there any treatment for sloth fever?

There are no medicines or vaccines to treat the virus till now. You can ease the symptoms by following some simple techniques, including:

• Get adequate rest
• Drink plenty of water
• Take over-the-counter antipyretics and supportive medications.

To reduce the risk of bleeding, the CDC recommends delaying the use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications until dengue can be ruled out.

How to prevent sloth fever?

Preventing mosquito or midge bites is the most effective way to avoid sloth fever. When outdoors, the CDC advises wearing long sleeves and pants, using a fan, having tight-fitting window and door screens and applying bug repellent. The few cases in the United States so far have been linked to travelling to places where the chances of getting infected are high.

So, it is recommended to avoid travelling to infection-prone areas. People who have weak immunity should be extra cautious to prevent infections. Women who are pregnant should also avoid travel to these areas, the CDC recommends.

Sloth fever can spread from mosquitoes as well. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

Are pregnant women at a higher risk?

There is no clear evidence stating the link between sloth fever and pregnancy. However, a report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) found that Brazil reported the possibility of Oropouche virus infection being passed from a pregnant woman to their fetus or congenital abnormalities in unborn babies. However, these cases are under investigation and the CDC continues to study the symptoms in infected people.

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