Sloth virus: Three European nations have reported cases of “sloth fever,” a rare and crippling illness that is carried by midges and originates in sloths. A doctor has warned that the infection has the potential to “become unstoppable.”
Since little is known about the nascent illness, Oropouche virus disease, as it is formally termed, has been branded “sloth fever” and described as a “mysterious threat” in the Lancet journal. It is related to dengue fever and the Zika virus. Last month in Brazil, two women in their twenties with no pre-existing health conditions were the first reported fatalities. Despite these deaths, the ECDC notes that recovery from the illness is common, and fatal outcomes are rare. The virus has since spread to Cuba and other parts of South America.
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Since then, it has expanded to Europe, where 19 instances total—12 in Spain, 5 in Italy, and 2 in Germany—have been reported. There are currently no documented examples of human-to-human transmission; all cases had recently travelled to regions where the virus is present.
Sloth virus: What are the symptoms of ‘sloth fever’?
Symptoms of sloth fever include:
- headache
- fever
- muscle aches
- stiff joints
- nausea
- vomiting
- chills
- sensitivity to light
As of now, there is neither a cure nor a vaccine for the disease. Also, since it is mostly spread by midge bites, common ways of keeping people from getting it like using mosquito nets may not work. The ECDC says that people who are going to areas that are affected should take precautions to stay healthy.
This includes wearing long sleeves and pants and applying insect repellent to reduce the risk of bites, both indoors and outdoors.
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According to RSVP Live, Imperial College London immunology professor Dr Danny Altmann told The Telegraph, “We should be worried.” Things could become unstoppable as they change.
Even though most people who get the virus get better without any long-term effects, there are worries that it could be harmful to pregnant children and cause stillbirth, miscarriage, or birth defects.
Usually, the symptoms start four to eight days after being bitten and last for three to six days. Since there isn’t a special drug for the virus, people who are sick can only get care that makes them feel better.
According to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), severe cases of the virus may lead to neuroinvasive diseases, such as meningitis.
On July 17, the UN issued an alert regarding potential negative health effects on unborn babies if the mother contracts the disease during pregnancy. Investigations are ongoing into possible cases of mother-to-child transmission in Brazil.
