Latest news with #Oropouche
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study uncovers alarming prevalence of disease linked to stillbirths: 'Will become even more widespread in the future'
A new study has revealed that Oropouche virus may be more prevalent in Latin America than initially believed — and it may be negatively impacting a vulnerable population. Oropouche virus is a vector-borne disease, which means that a living organism is what passes it on to humans. In this case, mosquitoes and biting midges (a kind of fly) are the vectors that transmit Oropouche. According to The Telegraph, Oropouche virus was found outside of its endemic area of Brazil for the first time in October 2023. While the World Health Organization says it was also detected in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, it has spread "rapidly" to other South American and Caribbean countries since the 2023 discovery, per the report. In fact, a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggests that Oropouche's stint in those regions may have started as early as 2001. Researchers analyzed 9,400 blood samples from 2001 to 2022 from patients in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru. They found that 6.3% of individuals had Oropouche antibodies, indicating they were previously infected with Oropouche virus. While there is still a lot that researchers don't know about Oropouche virus, The Telegraph says it has been linked to stillbirths and birth defects. Pregnant people and their children are the most vulnerable to this disease. The study also found that the El Niño phenomenon accelerates Oropouche transmission. El Niño creates warmer and wetter weather, and Earth's warming climate — driven by human activities, mostly the burning of dirty fuels — has amplified this phenomenon over time. This weather allows mosquitoes and biting midges to thrive and infect more people, which spells health and environmental problems. "I think it's possible that Oropouche virus will become even more widespread in the future as climate change progresses," Dr. Jan Drexler, the head of the Virus Epidemiology Laboratory at the Institute of Virology at Charité and lead author of the study, told The Telegraph. Stopping the transmission of Oropouche virus can help keep global communities safe. Taking action to protect the environment can be one of the best ways to do this. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Individuals can help by reducing their heat-trapping pollution through adopting energy-efficient appliances, taking public transportation, and installing solar panels, among other things. There is no treatment for Oropouche virus, so the best way to protect yourself is to be preventative. There are many ways to protect yourself from Oropouche virus and other diseases, such as Zika and West Nile, that are transmitted by mosquitoes. The WHO recommends using mesh bed nets, chemical insecticides, protective clothing, and insect repellents. The authors of the study also recommend that health care workers in the Americas familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of Oropouche virus, per The Telegraph. These include fever, headaches, and muscle pain. The symptoms may overlap with those of other illnesses such as dengue fever, as the WHO explains, but knowing that Oropouche is an option may help with diagnoses and treatments. 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.
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
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
CDC issues urgent warning for high-risk areas as serious fever cases soar: 'Worst year for ... cases on record'
The CDC has issued a warning for American travelers, as over 13 million dengue cases have been reported across the Americas so far this year, and travel analysts are beginning to break down the impact. Travel and Tour World reported on the alert, noting that locations like the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, United States, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bahamas are all at high risk for this mosquito-borne disease. The site, which covers issues affecting the tourism and travel industry, also noted that these sectors face increasing challenges as dengue cases rise. "While the disease does not spread directly from person to person, the global nature of travel means that an infected individual could bring the virus back home, sparking outbreaks in regions that were previously unaffected," it says. "The spread of dengue fever poses a serious public health threat, especially to popular travel destinations in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, which rely heavily on tourism for economic growth." Dengue can lead to symptoms like high fever, severe headache, nausea, and vomiting, according to the World Health Organization. More severe cases can result in bleeding gums or nose, weakness, blood or vomit in the stool, and even death. The current surge in infections comes after a record-breaking year for the disease — in fact, the World Mosquito Program called 2024 the "worst year for dengue cases on record." Meanwhile, other vector-borne illnesses such as malaria and Oropouche are also on rise as a warmer planet is helping mosquitoes to move into new habitats that were once too cold for them. For instance, Finnish scientists recently discovered a mosquito species that had never been observed in the country before. Plus, extreme weather such as hurricanes and floods — which are increasing in frequency and severity as our planet overheats — often leave behind pools of water, creating perfect spots for mosquitoes to breed and thrive. For example, Uganda is experiencing an increase in malaria as the country faces more unpredictable rainfall and flooding. A CBS News report on the dengue outbreak recommended that people take preventative actions like rearranging travel to countries with known dengue risk to times of the year when transmission is lower and wearing protective clothing and repellants. The CDC also recommends staying in air-conditioned or screened environments, avoiding mosquito-prone areas, and consulting a healthcare professional before travel to determine if any vaccinations or other preventative measures are recommended. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Governments are also looking for ways to reduce mosquito populations in order to protect people from disease. For instance, Djibouti has deployed genetically modified mosquitoes to kill the malaria-spreading ones. And officials in Florida are using X-rays to kill invasive mosquitoes that may carry diseases like dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
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.
