What’s Sloth Fever? Here’s What You Need to Know
Oropouche virus, also called “sloth fever,” has U.S. officials on alert. Last week, 30 travel-related cases were reported in Florida, the first in the country. They were all diagnosed in travelers returning from Cuba. Sloth fever has been common throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, but cases have increased recently, causing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to put out a health alert and travel advisory.
What’s sloth fever?
Oropouche virus (pronounced o-ro-push) is transmitted through mosquito bites and bites from midges, which is a type of small sand fly. The disease is known as sloth fever because the animals are commonly infected.
What are sloth fever’s symptoms?
About 60 percent (six in 10 people) who are infected develop symptoms. There can be two phases of the illness. The initial symptoms are mild and resolve on their own. However, about seven to 10 days later, there can be a more severe phase, with the onset of a sudden headache and fever. Other symptoms include:
- Chills
- Nausea
- Rash
- Muscle soreness
- Eye pain
- Joint pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
These symptoms are similar to dengue, malaria, and Zika, which are also mosquito-borne viruses. Patients usually recover in a week, but they can have ongoing fatigue for up to a month. In severe cases, sloth fever can cause meningitis and other symptoms related to the brain.
How can you treat and prevent sloth fever?
The only form of prevention is bite prevention, including staying indoors during peak mosquito hours (dusk and dawn), using insect repellent screens and sprays, and wearing protective clothing. The CDC recommends that pregnant people reconsider non-essential travel to areas where infection rates are increasing or high.
There are no medications or treatments specific to sloth fever. If you experience symptoms, it’s important to visit your nearest emergency room or urgent care center for treatment.