Latest news with #InstituteofVirologyatCharité
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Mystery deadly virus spreading silently is more dangerous than expected - and has no vaccine
A deadly virus - known as oropouche virus or sloth fever - is quietly spreading across South America and Europe as scientists fear it's more rampant than first believed. Scientists reveal Oropouche virus is more widespread and dangerous than they first believed. The virus - which is also known as sloth fever - has spread across South America over the past 18 months, as well as cases recently being discovered in Europe for the first time. The virus is transmitted by midges and some types of mosquito and it's largely contained in the Amazon region, the Mirror reports. Sloth fever was believed to be a mild infection, with headaches, rashes and nausea as the general symptoms. But, scientists have warned it could also lead to pregnancy loss or birth defects. Since late 2023, over 20,000 cases of oropouche virus have been reported across Latin America, sparked by a warming climate and increasingly frequent rain storms. Those living near the Amazon rainforest face the highest risk, with analysis suggesting up to 10% of the population may have previously had "sloth fever" - often without even knowing it. Professor Jan Felix Drexler, head of the Virus Epidemiology laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charité, explains: "We therefore assume that the current oropouche outbreak has been fuelled by weather phenomenons like El Niño." El Niño refers to a weather pattern marked by above-average sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean. He adds: "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." Professor Drexler has also sent an ominous warning for the rest of the world, explaining that the virus could spread even further out of the continent of South America. He states: "I think it's possible that oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses." Sloth fever was detected in Europe for the first time last year, with confirmed cases in Italy, Spain and Germany. Spain reported 12 cases of oropouche in June and July 2024, while Italy had five and Germany had two. Out of the 19 total cases, 18 had recently traveled to Cuba and one had previously visited Brazil. It is not believed any of these cases were internally transmitted in Europe, they had all picked up the virus outside of the continent. Oropouche virus was first identified in 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago, named after the Oropouche River as it was found nearby. Over the past 25 years, the virus has caused outbreaks in countries including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, and Peru. Additionally, in June last year Cuba had reported its first case of the infection. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sloth fever symptoms start somewhere between three and 10 days after infection. Notably, there have been very few deaths among people infected with sloth fever. There is currently no medication to treat the virus and there is no vaccination to protect against it. Anyone who has been diagnosed with infection is advised to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. No cases of sloth fever have been confirmed in the UK, and the risk of it spreading to Britain remains extremely low. However, health experts stress the importance of staying aware and seeking medical advice if there's any reason to suspect exposure. 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."
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
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.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oropouche virus ‘massively underdiagnosed' in Latin America, new study suggests
Oropouche virus may be far more widespread in Latin America than previously understood, new research has found. Closely related to the Zika and Dengue viruses, Oropouche is transmitted by biting midges and mosquitoes. It poses a particular risk to pregnant women, having been linked to stillbirths and serious birth defects. The virus was first detected outside of Brazil – where it is endemic – in October 2023, when it began spreading rapidly across other South American and Caribbean countries. Since then, over 20,000 cases and four deaths have been reported. However, a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggests that the virus may have been circulating across the region undetected since as early as 2001. Researchers analysed 9,400 blood samples collected between 2001 and 2022 from patients in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. They found that at least 6.3 per cent – nearly 600 individuals – had antibodies against Oropouche, indicating past infection. There were significant regional variants, however; while antibodies were present in two per cent of samples from Costa Rica, they appeared in five per cent of samples from Ecuador and over 10 per cent of samples from the Amazon region. People living in higher altitudes were also less likely to have experienced a previous Oropouche infection than those at warmer, lower altitudes – which offer more favourable conditions for the insects that transmit the disease. 'Our data show that Oropouche virus is massively under-diagnosed in Latin America,' said Professor Jan Drexler, head of the Virus Epidemiology Laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charité and lead author of the study. 'We still know relatively little about the virus, the consequences of an infection, including on unborn babies, require further investigation and it's not yet clear whether there are parallels with the Zika virus,' he added. The researchers said that Oropouche cases are often confused with dengue fever, which is widespread in Latin America, because they cause similar symptoms including high fevers, headaches, and muscle pain. The study also found the El Niño phenomena – a naturally occurring weather pattern which creates warmer and wetter weather – significantly increases transmission of Oropouche, by creating conditions in which midges and mosquitoes can thrive. The 2023-2024 El Niño was one of the strongest on record, and was exacerbated by climate change. 'I think it's possible that Oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses,' Dr Drexler said. The authors of the study say the findings emphasise the need for the development of an Oropouche vaccine, which currently does not exist. They also recommend that healthcare workers in the Americas are better educated on the signs and symptoms of Oropouche virus, and that it should be considered when treating anyone with unexplained fevers, pregnancy complications, or in the case of unexplained death. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
15-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Oropouche virus ‘massively underdiagnosed' in Latin America, new study suggests
Oropouche virus may be far more widespread in Latin America than previously understood, new research has found. Closely related to the Zika and Dengue viruses, Oropouche is transmitted by biting midges and mosquitoes. It poses a particular risk to pregnant women, having been linked to stillbirths and serious birth defects. The virus was first detected outside of Brazil – where it is endemic – in October 2023, when it began spreading rapidly across other South American and Caribbean countries. Since then, over 20,000 cases and four deaths have been reported. However, a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggests that the virus may have been circulating across the region undetected since as early as 2001. Researchers analysed 9,400 blood samples collected between 2001 and 2022 from patients in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. They found that at least 6.3 per cent – nearly 600 individuals – had antibodies against Oropouche, indicating past infection. There were significant regional variants, however; while antibodies were present in two per cent of samples from Costa Rica, they appeared in five per cent of samples from Ecuador and over 10 per cent of samples from the Amazon region. People living in higher altitudes were also less likely to have experienced a previous Oropouche infection than those at warmer, lower altitudes – which offer more favourable conditions for the insects that transmit the disease. 'Our data show that Oropouche virus is massively under-diagnosed in Latin America,' said Professor Jan Drexler, head of the Virus Epidemiology Laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charité and lead author of the study. 'We still know relatively little about the virus, the consequences of an infection, including on unborn babies, require further investigation and it's not yet clear whether there are parallels with the Zika virus,' he added. The researchers said that Oropouche cases are often confused with dengue fever, which is widespread in Latin America, because they cause similar symptoms including high fevers, headaches, and muscle pain. The study also found the El Niño phenomena – a naturally occurring weather pattern which creates warmer and wetter weather – significantly increases transmission of Oropouche, by creating conditions in which midges and mosquitoes can thrive. The 2023-2024 El Niño was one of the strongest on record, and was exacerbated by climate change. 'I think it's possible that Oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses,' Dr Drexler said. The authors of the study say the findings emphasise the need for the development of an Oropouche vaccine, which currently does not exist. They also recommend that healthcare workers in the Americas are better educated on the signs and symptoms of Oropouche virus, and that it should be considered when treating anyone with unexplained fevers, pregnancy complications, or in the case of unexplained death.
