Sloth fever is a new fever knocking at the border of the US, this time it is not spreading from Africa, which become a center point of the disease. The main spreading point is South America.
Sloth fever which is caused by the Oropouche virus, turned deadly in South America. Now few of the cases have been found in the USA, which they got from the travellers who travel to the South America alerted region, where the virus is highly spread. CDC is issuing a health advisory among healthcare providers and public health authorities to take the necessary preventive measures and surveillance the area for new cases.
Alone in the USA, 21 cases are reported by the CDC, and all are transmitted by traveling to these alert regions.WHO recognized the risk level in the South America region as “High”.
What is the Oropouche Virus or Sloth Fever
Sloth fever is spread via the Oropouche virus, a name which is derived from the village in Trinidad and Tobago where it was discovered in 1955. Since then 500,000 cases have been found. Initially, it spread among vertebrate hosts such as birds, rodents, and sloths. The name sloth is derived from vertebrates.
Humans got this infection when they visited the forest areas and get the infection. Little knowledge is there about the disease and the Lancet journal called it a “mysterious threat”.
The virus is similar to the Zika virus but comes from a different virus family. The virus was previously contained in a particular geography but the recent spread to the other region raises concern that there could be new vectors involved in the cycle.
How Sloth Fever is Transmitted?
Sloth fever is transmitted through the bite of infected biting midges, a type of certain types of mosquitoes, and tiny flies.
Initially, it is endemic to the Amazon Basin region of South America, where transmission of the cycle is maintained between the pathogen which is infecting bites midges and rodents, birds sloths.
Later it spread among the people who visited the forest area and got bitten by the infected biting midges and they carried this disease to the urban areas. Later deforestation and climate change become the main factors in spreading the disease in other areas.
Now it is spread in Brazil, Cuba, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru. Recently cases have been detected in the USA but no local transmission. Dr. Erin Staples a medical epidemiologist with the CDC Division of Vector Borne Disease said “The current risk of sustained local transmission in the continental United States is believed to be low.”
What are the Symptoms of Sloth Fever?
According to the New York State Department of Health, Sloth fever is similar to dengue, malaria, and chikungunya fever, which can make identification challenging.
Other symptoms include -:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle Aches and Pains
- Joint Stiffness
According to the CDC, other symptoms include:
- Sensitivity to Light
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Rash
- Pain behind the eyes
- Dizziness
According to the CDC, sloth fever will last for 2-7 days and people recover in a month, some people will develop serious conditions, especially children with meningitis, encephalitis, or bleeding.
Sloth Fever Treatment and Prevention
Unfortunately, there are no treatments available for Sloth fever or Oropouche virus. It is best you should protect yourself from insect bites, apply mosquito repellant, use windows and door screens, and use a fan outdoors to keep bugs away.
If any people traveling to Cuba take the extreme precautions, protect themselves from bug bites, and seek necessary medical care.
Pregnant women should take special precautions and avoid traveling to the affected regions.
