Latest news with #OROV
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Warning signs to look out for as 'sloth virus' hits people in UK
Health officials have issued an urgent alert after 'sloth fever' - a tropical disease that can be fatal - was detected in Brits returning from one foreign country An urgent new health warning has been issued after a number of Brits were diagnosed with a tropical disease. 'Sloth fever' usually causes mild or moderate symptoms, however, for a few people it can be fatal. The alert was raised after the illness, also known as Oropouche virus (OROV), was diagnosed in three Brits who'd all recently returned from Brazil. Warning signs of 'sloth virus' have been detailed which include headache, joint pain and fever along with possible nausea, vomiting, and a rash. Other common symptoms include muscle aches and chills, feeling dizzy, sensitive to light or getting pain behind the eyes. The virus is known as 'sloth fever' due to it occurring in the species, but it's also prevalent in birds. The illness usually presents mild symptoms that disappear after a few days to a week, but occasionally the virus attacks the brain which can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis. An estimated 4% of people infected will develop neurological conditions. The, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released new figures on August 14 which revealed there have been three confirmed cases of the virus in Britain. All those with the virus had recently returned from travelling abroad to Brazil. There have been no fatal cases in the UK, but in Brazil so far this year five deaths have been recorded for 'sloth virus'. The tropical infection is spread via mosquitos and midges - and it can also be sexually transmitted, though no confirmed reports of sexual transmission are recorded. There is no cure or vaccine for the disease which is also understood to be risky for pregnant women with reported neurological complications and foetal complications being currently under investigation. The recent warning from officials cautioned pregnant women travelling to Central and South America - as it's understood that the virus has been potentially linked to miscarriage. The UKHSA statement said: 'If you're pregnant and considering travel to affected areas, it is important to discuss this with your GP or travel clinic before you go. 'While we are still learning about the risks of OROV during pregnancy, the potential for mother-to-child transmission—and impact on the foetus—means caution is necessary.' Up to 70 percent of patients experience a recurrence of the disease after the initial infection as the virus appears to present symptoms again in some people who were infected. Drinking plenty of fluids, resting and taking paracetamol appear to help alleviate discomfort. If travelling, wearing long-sleeved clothing and applying DEET type insect repellents can help ward off midges and mosquitos. Air conditioning, window screens or bedding nets can also help to keep you safe from bites This year (2025) so far has recorded over 12,000 confirmed cases of the virus, with most being in Brazil or other areas of South America - which has recorded 11,888 of that total. However, America and Canada have both reported one case of the 'sloth virus' recently too.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Deadly Oropouche virus could have 'severe consequences' for pregnant women
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed three instances of oropouche virus linked to trips to Brazil were found in the UK amid fears the disease "should not be underestimated" An expert has issued a stark warning that the initial cases of the lethal Oropouche virus detected in the UK could pose "severe consequences" for expectant mums. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed three instances of oropouche virus linked to trips to Brazil. The illness, which resembles the flu, can cause symptoms such as fever, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain, chills, nausea and vomiting. Officials have urged anyone who becomes unwell with these symptoms after travelling to affected areas, including parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean, to seek urgent medical advice. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), before late 2023, the oropouche virus was mostly reported near the Amazon rainforest area. However, in 2024, locally transmitted cases of the disease were reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Peru and the Dominican Republic. Dr Enny Paixao, an associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warns the virus should "not be underestimated", particularly for expectant mothers. It comes after the Oropouche virus was found in the UK for the first time after sweeping through Europe. Last year, a woman heartbreakingly lost her baby in Pernambuco, Brazil, after contracting the Oropouche virus. Additionally, a second incident occurred in Acre where a newborn with birth defects caused by mother-to-child transmission sadly passed away after 47 days. The World Health Organisation reports three further potential instances of mother-to-child transmission are under investigation in Pernambuco. The specialist warns these discoveries should "underscore the urgent need for further investigation, which should be considered a public health priority." She told The Mirror: "The potential public health implications should not be underestimated. Although OROV infection is typically mild and self-limiting, previous outbreaks reported by PAHO and the Brazilian Ministry of Health have included fatalities. In Brazil, several confirmed or suspected cases of vertical transmission have also been documented, with severe consequences for the fetus. "Since last year, samples from cases of microcephaly of unknown etiology have been tested for Oropouche virus, and some have tested positive. Last year, a documented case of vertical transmission of Oropouche virus was reported in the state of Pernambuco, resulting in fetal death. "Subsequently, a second case was reported in Acre, in which a neonate born with congenital anomalies attributed to vertical transmission, including microcephaly, ventriculomegaly, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and joint malformations, died after 47 days. These are published in Lancet Infectious Disease. "These findings underscore the urgent need for further investigation, which should be considered a public health priority. "Pregnant women should be counselled on preventive measures, particularly the use of mosquito bite protection, as this not only reduces the risk of Oropouche virus infection but also protects against other mosquito borne diseases, including Zika, dengue, and chikungunya."
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Six Oropouche symptoms easily mistaken for flu after deadly virus first found in UK
UKHSA confirms first UK cases of Oropouche virus in travellers from Brazil. With flu-like symptoms, experts warn holidaymakers to know the signs and take precautions British travellers are being urged to stay vigilant after the UK recorded its first-ever cases of Oropouche virus (OROV), a mosquito and midge-borne infection that can easily be mistaken for the flu. According to the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report, three cases of Oropouche were identified in travellers returning from Brazil between January and June 2025. While relatively rare, the virus has been spreading across parts of South and Central America and the Caribbean, with Brazil reporting the largest outbreaks. The infection typically causes high fever, chills, headache, joint pain, and muscle aches - symptoms that closely resemble common viral illnesses, making it easy to misdiagnose. It comes after the NHS warns mouth symptom could be life-shortening disease. READ MORE: Urgent warning issued as dogs and foxes die after eating 'poison' in Devon park Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at UKHSA, stressed the importance of taking travel precautions. 'If a person becomes unwell with these symptoms following travel to affected areas, they should seek urgent medical advice,' he said. Pregnant travellers, in particular, are advised to be cautious due to recent concerns about Oropouche virus infection during pregnancy. Symptoms Fever or chills Severe headache Muscle aches or joint pain Nausea or vomiting Rash Diarrhoea Get health warnings straight to your WhatsApp! As the world grapples with the threats of Covid-19, mpox and more, the Mirror has launched its very own Health & Wellbeing WhatsApp community where you'll get health warnings and news straight to your phone. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The rise in Oropouche cases comes alongside other travel-related infections that UKHSA has been tracking. Chikungunya - a mosquito-borne virus causing sudden fever and debilitating joint pain - has seen a sharp increase, with 73 cases reported in England in the first half of 2025. Most affected travellers had returned from Sri Lanka, India, and Mauritius, where outbreaks continue. Although the UK's climate prevents local mosquitoes from transmitting the disease, severe symptoms can linger for months, particularly joint pain, which affects up to 12 percent of patients even three years after infection. For those planning trips to higher-risk regions, two chikungunya vaccines are now available in the UK: IXCHIQ® for adults aged 18 to 59 and Vimkunya® for individuals 12 and older. UKHSA recommended consulting a travel clinic to discuss suitability before travelling. The Travel-associated Infections report also highlights a worrying increase in cholera cases, rising from one case in 2024 to eight in the first half of 2025, largely linked to travel to India and Ethiopia. Dengue and Zika virus cases, by contrast, have fallen, with 161 dengue cases and just four Zika cases reported across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland during the same period. Meningococcal serogroup W (MenW) disease has also been noted among UK travellers, particularly those visiting Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj. The potentially deadly infection can leave survivors with severe lifelong health complications, and vaccination with MenACWY is strongly advised for pilgrims and their close contacts. UKHSA recommends that travellers consult the Travel Health Pro website at least four to six weeks before departure. The site provides comprehensive advice on health risks worldwide, helping travellers take preventive measures such as vaccinations, mosquito bite avoidance, and timely medical guidance if symptoms appear.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oropouche virus more prevalent than previously assumed, data shows
The Oropouche virus is much more widespread in Latin America than previously thought, according to a study from Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru. Oropouche virus disease, also known as Oropouche fever, is a febrile illness, from which patients typically recover quickly. It's caused by the Oropouche virus, which people catch through the bites of infected biting midges, and possibly of some mosquitoes, the World Health Organization says. International researchers found antibodies against the pathogen in 6.3% of more than 9,400 blood samples, meaning at least one in 16 people there has had this infection at least once in their lives, says co-author Jan Felix Drexler. More than 6.3% of the population has probably already had contact with the virus, says Drexler, head of the Virus Epidemiology working group at Germany's Charité hospital. "We don't know how long the antibodies last," he says. But there were significant regional differences, the team wrote in a paper published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. While in Costa Rica, an average of around 2% of the samples showed antibodies against the pathogen, in Ecuador it was 5% and in the Amazon regions, more than 10%. The blood samples were taken between 2001 and 2022. Symptoms of the Oropouche virus (OROV) are similar to those of dengue or chikungunya fever and include headaches, muscle and joint pain, nausea and diarrhoea, sometimes also skin rashes. In rare cases, the disease can be severe. There are also indications of possible damage to unborn children. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccination for the virus. The virus is transmitted in Latin America by different mosquito species. For a long time, only a few cases were reported per year as little testing was carried out. But the number of infections has risen to more than 20,000 cases per year since 2023, though it is unclear why this is the case. Drexler's team say climate factors such as rainfall and temperature have a major influence. Last year's heavy rainfall in parts of South America could have contributed to larger mosquito populations and thus to the spread of the virus. In Germany, the Foreign Office and Robert Koch Institute (RKI) centre for disease control say pregnant women should weigh whether it is necessary for them to travel to areas where there are outbreaks. If you are travelling to areas affected, take consistent protection against bug bites by wearing long clothing, using insect repellent and getting a particularly fine-mesh mosquito net.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists uncover new information on spread of virus across US — here's what you need to know
If you live in the U.S., it's unlikely that you'll catch Oropouche fever, according to a new study that took a look at the ability of local mosquitoes to transmit the virus that causes this vector-borne disease. News Medical Life Sciences summarized the findings, noting that Oropouche is primarily spread by small flies called midges but can sometimes be transmitted by mosquitoes as well. The researchers looked at four U.S. species — Cx. pipiens, Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. quadrimaculatus, and Ae. albopictus — and found weak transmission rates of the virus among them. "These results … suggest the likelihood of these species maintaining OROV in North America remains low," the researchers stated. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oropouche fever can lead to symptoms like sudden onset of fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and joint pain. However, more severe cases can lead to death, and Brazil has documented cases of pregnant mothers passing the virus to their fetus, possibly resulting in fetal death or congenital abnormalities. Though the study offers hope to those living in the U.S., Oropouche and other mosquito-borne illnesses remain a growing concern across the world, as warming global temperatures are creating the perfect conditions for mosquito populations to thrive and expand. For instance, as temperatures climb to new highs, malaria risk zones have expanded to higher elevations in the Ethiopian Highlands, according to And one recent study found that several mosquito species' populations are set to expand their ranges in North and South America in the coming years thanks to warmer temperatures. Plus, recent studies have projected that longer autumns and earlier springs in the U.S. will extend mosquito season by two months, The Harvard Gazette reported. The publication explained that these periods are expected to be warmer and wetter, providing more standing water for mosquitoes to breed. This extra time will lead to more gestational cycles, and this is likely to lead to more bites from females, which need to feed on blood before laying their eggs. In the wake of such threats, governments and scientists are looking for ways to protect people from mosquito-borne diseases like Oropouche, malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus. For instance, after San Diego County discovered its first-ever locally acquired case of dengue in fall 2024, it sprayed for mosquitoes at about 170 homes over a full weekend in an attempt to quickly halt the potential spread of the virus. And a $70 million pilot program testing malaria vaccines in Africa resulted in a 13% decrease in deaths due to this disease among young children over a period of four years. You can protect yourself from being bitten by mosquitoes by taking steps like wearing long sleeves and pants, using insect repellents, keeping unscreened windows and doors closed, and draining standing water in order to prevent the laying of eggs. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
