What we know about sloth virus – and where it’s spreading

A worrying new virus called ‘sloth fever‘ has been discovered in a popular holiday spot in South America, and experts are raising alarms about the disease.

The virus, which is carried by sloths and spread by mosquitoes, was identified after 11 people in Florida, USA, returned from their vacations with symptoms. These symptoms include fever, rash, and joint pain, but in rare cases, the virus can cause severe brain swelling and even death. Two healthy women in Brazil died after contracting the virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about the virus, known as Oropouche. So far this year, over 8,000 cases have been reported in Central and South America. Along with the two deaths, the virus has also caused one miscarriage and led to four babies being born with birth defects. Research is ongoing to understand the impact on pregnant women.

Earlier this month, 19 cases were reported in Europe, prompting a warning from the European Center for Disease Control. The virus is nicknamed ‘sloth fever‘ because sloths can carry it.

The biggest concern is that there is no treatment or vaccine for the virus. The only way to protect yourself is to avoid mosquito bites when traveling to certain areas. The CDC advises wearing long sleeves and pants, using insect repellent, and staying in places with window and door screens. However, it’s important to note that fewer than one in 20 people who get the virus will develop life-threatening symptoms.

Dr. Danny Altmann, an immunology professor at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph that “we should all be worried” about the virus. He compared it to the Zika outbreak from 2015 to 2016, saying that Oropouche is concerning because of its unpredictability. He also noted that climate change seems to be increasing health risks around the world.