Mystery deadly virus spreading quietly is more dangerous than thought - and there's no vaccine
Oropouche virus - or sloth fever, as it's also known - is a deadly virus that's quietly spreading across South America and Europe, and scientists fear it's more prevalent than first believed
Oropouche virus is far more common and dangerous than previously believed, scientists have revealed.
The virus - which is also known as sloth fever - has soared across South America over the past 18 months, and it's recently been discovered in Europe for the first time, too. It's spread by midges and some types of mosquito, and it's largely contained the Amazon region.
Sloth fever was largely believed to be a mild infection, with general symptoms like headaches, rashes and nausea. But, it could also lead to pregnancy loss or birth defects, scientists warned.
More than 20,000 cases of oropouche virus have been reported in Latin America since late 2023, sparked by a warming climate and more frequent rain storms. Anyone living around the Amazon rainforest was most at risk of infection, with analysis showing up to 10% of all people had previously had sloth fever - whether they knew it or not.
'We therefore assume that the current oropouche outbreak has been fueled by weather phenomenons like El Niño,' explains Professor Jan Felix Drexler, head of the Virus Epidemiology laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charité. El Niño describes a weather phenomenon that causes a higher-than-average sea surface temperature in the central Pacific Ocean.
'By contrast, we have not found evidence that changing properties of the virus could provide an alternative explanation for the high case count at present," he added
Professor Drexler also sent an ominous warning for the rest of the world, claiming the virus could spread even further outside the continent.
"I think it's possible that oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses."
Sloth fever was found in Europe for the very first time last year. It was confirmed in Italy, Spain and Germany. Spain reported 12 cases of oropouche in June and July of 2024. Italy had five cases, and Germany had two.
Eighteen of the 19 cases had a travel history to Cuba, and one had previously visited Brazil. It's not believed any of the cases were internally passed on in Europe, and they all picked up the virus outside the continent.
Oropouche was first discovered in 1955, in Trinidad and Tobago. It got its name after being found next to the Oropouche River. The virus has previously sparked outbreaks in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, and Peru over the past 25 years.
In June last year, Cuba reported its first case of the infection. Sloth fever symptoms tend to start somewhere between three and 10 days after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There have been very few deaths among people infected with the virus, it added.
There's no current medication to treat oropouche, and there's no vaccination to protect against it. Anyone that's been diagnosed with the infection would be advised to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.
There have been no confirmed cases of sloth fever in the UK, and the risk of it ever reaching Britain or Northern Ireland remains incredibly low. But, it's vital that everyone stays alert to the threat, and seeks medical attention if they think they could be at risk, health experts have claimed.
Dr Philip Veal, Travel Health Consultant at UKHSA, said: 'The midge that carries Oropouche virus is not currently established in Europe. It is typically found in the Americas. There is no evidence that the virus can spread from person to person.
'When travelling to affected areas, you can avoid the infection, and others such as dengue, Zika and malaria, by preventing insect bites. Use insect repellent, cover exposed skin and sleep under a treated bed net. Plan ahead and visit the TravelHealthPro website to look up your destination and the latest health information and advice, particularly if you are pregnant.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
How to actually get a good night's sleep
Getting a good night of shut eye can often seem like a Herculean task. Smartphones provide an enticing distraction — whether you're laughing at a funny YouTube video or texting with friends — and the noise and light pollution can interrupt our body clocks. But, there's no one secret to perfect sleep, and everyone is different. Some people can fall asleep in an instant (even if that seems unfair), while others stare at the ceiling for hours. 'As a nation we are not getting enough sleep,' Dr. Wayne Giles, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Population Health, previously cautioned. But, what is enough, why is it important, and are there rules we can follow to get it? What is a good night's sleep? People need continuous hours of restful sleep. The American Heart Association says you want multiple cycles of all five stages of sleep, advancing into deep sleep. The two main stages of sleep are rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM. REM sleep is thought to aid in the development of the central nervous system and protect against dementia. The amount of sleep each person needs will vary and changes as we age, but adults should get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Otherwise, you will feel tired throughout the week. About a third of U.S. adults don't get enough sleep and many older adults don't sleep well. Sleep disorders are common, but sleep can also be disrupted by chronic health conditions. 'Older adults have different sleep patterns. They tend to sleep more lightly and may wake earlier in the morning,' Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Michelle Drerup said. 'But you still need the same amount of sleep over 24 hours, so if you're sleeping less at night, you might need a nap during the day.' Why do we need it? A good night's sleep can impact memory, adaptability, and brain function. Without enough sleep, symptoms of depression, seizures, high blood pressure, and migraines can worsen. Peoples' immunity is compromised. A lack of sleep can raise our propensity for obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, according to Harvard Medical School. People who don't get enough are also at an increased risk of falls or accidents. Even just one night without sleep can create a prediabetic state in an otherwise healthy person, according to Johns Hopkins University. Three nights without sleep can hurt your heart, a recent study found. 'Sleep influences many aspects of health, including mood, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, and increasingly we recognize it is important for brain health,' Dr. Mark Wu, a professor of neurology, medicine, and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, told The Independent. 'At Hopkins, for example, we have been investigating the connection between sleep and Alzheimer's disease, and the data suggest that poor quality and insufficient sleep can be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.' What can we do to get it? Many experts recommend similar steps — and like all good advice, the hard part is following it consistently. Getting exercise in the morning can help maintain your body's clock. Sticking to a schedule and pre-sleep routine can reinforce your body's sleep-wake cycle, according to Mayo Clinic. If you have trouble sleeping one night, try not to sleep later or nap the next day. You will sleep better that night. Federal health officials also advise people keep their bedroom quiet and cool, and turn off their electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Bright lights can disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake functions, also known as your circadian rhythm. Dr. Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at U.C. Berkeley, said in an email shared with The Independent that the room should be at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Reduce caffeine after lunch and don't drink before bed. Nicotine is also a negative, Wu said. 'Most people can get good sleep, but there are many factors that can influence sleep, like pain, mood disorders like anxiety, depression, stress,' he explained.
NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
At least 1.7 million eggs recalled as CDC and FDA investigate multistate salmonella outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to at least 1.7 million eggs, according to a news release issued on Saturday. The brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs were distributed by the August Egg Company from Feb. 3 through May 15 to retailers in nine states — California, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Illinois, Indiana and Wyoming, per the FDA. In an announcement issued Friday, the Hilmar, California-based distribution company recalled 1.7 million eggs, which have sell-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19 and were sold at retailers including Walmart and Safeway, as well as under many different brands that can be seen here. So far, the outbreak has sickened 79 people in New Jersey, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, Arizona, Washington state and California, the CDC said. At least 21 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. 'This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported,' the CDC said. 'This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella.' Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can make people sick if they consume contaminated food and water, or touch animals, their fecal matter or the areas they live in, according to the CDC. It is 'a leading cause of food-borne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide,' causing about 1.35 million infections in the U.S. every year. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps and can start six hours to six days after consumption of the bacteria. Children under five, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems can become seriously ill as a result of contracting salmonella. The CDC is advising anyone who has the recalled eggs in their home to throw them away or return them to the retailer that sold them. Businesses with recalled eggs should not sell or serve them, and should sanitize any item or surface that came into contact with the eggs. The August Egg Company said it began taking its eggs to an 'egg-breaking facility' to pasteurize them and kill pathogens after learning about the salmonella concern. 'August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring,' the company said in a statement. 'We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again.' This isn't the only salmonella outbreak the U.S. is currently grappling with. Last month, the FDA announced a recall of cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales due to a salmonella outbreak that has sickened 45 people and hospitalized 16 across 18 states. The FDA's investigation into the cucumbers is ongoing.
NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
At least 1.7 million eggs recalled as the CDC and FDA investigate multistate Salmonella outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to at least 1.7 million eggs, according to a news release issued on Saturday. The brown cage free and brown certified organic eggs were distributed by the August Egg Company from February 3 through May 15 to retailers in nine states — California, Nevada, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico, Illinois, Indiana and Wyoming, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In an announcement issued Friday, the Hilmar, California-based distribution company recalled 1,700,000 eggs, which have sell by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19 and were sold at retailers including Walmart and Safeway, as well as under many different brands that can be seen here. So far, the outbreak has sickened 79 people in New Jersey, Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, Arizona, Washington and California, the CDC said. At least 21 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. "This outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported," the CDC said. "This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella." Salmonella are bacteria that can make people sick if they consume contaminated food and water, or touch animals, their fecal matter or the areas they live in, according to the CDC. It is "a leading cause of food-borne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide," causing about 1.35 million infections in the U.S. every year. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps and can start six hours to six days after consumption of the bacteria. Children under five, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems can become seriously ill as a result of contracting Salmonella. The CDC is advising anyone that has the recalled eggs in their home to throw them away or return them to the retailer that sold it to them. Businesses with recalled eggs should not sell or serve them, and should sanitize any item or surface that came into contact with the eggs. The August Egg Company said they began taking their eggs to an "egg-breaking facility" to pasteurize them and kill pathogens after learning about the Salmonella concern. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring," the company said in a statement. "We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." This isn't the only Salmonella outbreak the U.S. is currently grappling with. Last month, the FDA announced a recall of cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales due to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 45 people and hospitalized 16 across 18 states. The FDA's investigation into the cucumbers is ongoing.
