Sloth fever, described as deadly and dangerous, has so far affected many areas in both Europe and the United States. Learn everything about Oropauche here.
Sloth fever, dangerous, highly contagious, and hitherto spreading rapidly across Europe and the US, is threatening the people tremendously. More than 20 people traveling back to the US from Cuba have been identified with the virus.
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As the number of cases is increasing rapidly all over these regions, health authorities continue to study the nature of infection and the spread of it. Here’s all you need to know about sloth fever and how you can prevent it.
What is sloth fever?
The virus is also known as the Oropouche virus. It falls into the category of arthropod-borne viruses since it infects insects, which then bite humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, several mosquito species have equally transmitted the virus, but in general, the virus is considered to be transmitted through a species of biting midge called Culicoides prariensis. The fever may recurrently affect symptomatically infected people.
This virus got its name from a village where the first case was identified; the Oropouche virus. It was isolated in 1955 from the blood of a 24-year-old forest worker from the Trinidad and Tobago town of Vega de Oropouche. This virus is also referred to as sloth fever since it was first isolated in a three-toad sloth, and they host it naturally.
In sum, the Oropouche virus reportedly caused over 8000 cases in 5 countries during the first 7 months of 2024. The virus has taken two lives in Brazil and those of two unborn children. It is still spreading in some parts of Europe and the United States.
Sloth fever, or what is more correctly termed “Bradypus fever,” is an emerging term describing a growing interest and fondness for sloths, especially those of the three-toed sloth species Bradypus. That “fever” may be characterized as increasing worldwide enthusiasm for such slow-moving, tree-dwelling mammals, often through viral internet videos and social media posts fueled further by conservation efforts.
Not being a state of medical conditions, sloth fever is a personification of changed humanity in appreciation of unique and less acknowledged representatives of the animal kingdom. This trend also underlines the importance of sloths’ conservation given growing threats to their habitats.
How is the virus transmitted?
The virus is spread when an animal or person is bitten by an infected insect. This disease is most likely largely spread by the pinhead-sized midge, Culicoides paraensis, a species that ranges throughout much of the Americas.
However, bites of mosquito species like Culex quinquefasciatus and Ochlerotatus serratus have also been reported to spread the virus. Person-to-person spread of the virus has never been reported. Once absorbed into the bloodstream, it is capable of spreading through the body quickly. It even crosses the blood-brain barrier to appear in the central nervous system. It appears to concentrate particularly in the liver and brain.
Symptoms of sloth fever
Common symptoms of sloth fever or Oropouche, according to CDC include the following:
The sudden onset of fever
Severe headache
Chills
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Sensitivity to light
Dizziness
Pain behind the eye
Nausea or vomiting
Rash
Although most symptoms last less than a week, somewhere between 2-7 days, these may reoccur some days or even weeks later. It may even take a month for some people to recover. Some may develop more serious diseases such as:
Meningitis or the inflammation of the membranes enveloping the brain and spinal cord.
Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.
Bleeding.
As the CDC states, deaths from the Oropouche virus are extremely rare.
Is there any treatment for sloth fever?
There are no medicines or vaccines for treating the virus to date. You can ease the symptoms by following a few simple techniques which include:
Get plenty of rest
Drink plenty of water
Take over-the-counter antipyretics and supportive medications.
To decrease the risk of bleeding, the CDC advises waiting until dengue fever can be ruled out before taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
How to prevent sloth fever?
The best way to prevent sloth fever is by preventing mosquito or midge bites. Outdoors, the CDC recommends wearing long sleeves and pants, utilizing a fan, keeping window and door screens fitting tightly, and using bug repellents. In the United States, the few cases reported so far have been related to travel to and from countries where there are high chances of getting infected.
So, infection-prone areas should better be avoided. Individuals who have weak immunity must be more cautious to avoid getting infections. Pregnant women, too, should not travel to such areas, recommends the CDC.
A risk for pregnant women?
No apparent evidence states the relation between sloth fever and pregnancy. On the contrary, according to the report by PAHO, Brazil reported suspicion of infection with Oropouche virus in pregnant woman is perhaps passed to the fetus or unborn congenital disabilities of unborn babies. However these cases are still under investigation and CDC continues to study the signs and symptoms in the infected person.
Effects of sloth fever on diabetic patients?
“Sloth fever” is the fascination with sloths and, as such, does not have direct actions on diabetic patients. It’s cultural, not a medical condition. Still, it may be easy to believe that “sloth fever” can easily refer to an actual medical condition, leading to confusion.
For your question, if by it you mean whether the emotional or psychological consequences of the interaction with information about sloths may affect the health condition of a diabetic patient, I would say that while a reduction of stress is healthy, there is no specific effect of “sloth fever” on the management of the disease, and diabetic patients should go on with their usual health plan.
Effects of sloth fever on asthma patients?
It does not have direct effects on asthma patients. It’s not a medical condition but rather more of a trend in culture. It, therefore does not affect asthma physically or any symptoms associated with the same.
However, these may be helpful for the asthma patient indirectly by reducing stress, which is one of the common asthma triggers, if engagement in sloth-related topics, like watching calming videos, helps a patient with asthma relax. There is no specific link between “sloth fever” and asthma. Asthma patients should remain under their respective medical advice regarding the management of their condition.
Conclusion
“Sloth fever” is a pretty rare condition that presupposes a great rise in body temperature; it usually promotes general fever symptoms, such as chills, extensive sweating, and prostration.
Though the cause of this fever is yet to be investigated, close monitoring of fever temperature is recommended to avoid serious health complications because of sustaining high temperatures. Fever symptoms, temperature reduction, and alleviation of the discomforts associated with sloth fever are important for recovery. More research and awareness regarding this rare condition will help to understand its correct management and treatment.
Disclaimer
In this article, information related to a particular topic has been collected from various sources, the purpose of which is only to increase the knowledge of the readers and it does not confirm the existence of any disease and its treatment. Health Alpha does not take any responsibility for any such information.
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