Scientists Raise Concern Over ‘Sloth Virus’ in Europe—What to Know
Oropouche, a.k.a. sloth virus, has been detected in Europe for the first time.
The disease can cause intense symptoms that come on fast.
There is no vaccine or treatment for the sloth virus.
From COVID-19 to MPox to Alaskapox, there’s no shortage of viruses making headlines. Now, there’s a new one to note: Sloth virus, a.k.a. Oropouche.
The so-called “sloth virus” has appeared in Europe for the first time, raising plenty of questions about what this is and how to lower your risk. In June and July, there were 19 imported cases of the virus reported in Europe, including 12 in Spain, five in Italy, and two in Germany, according to a recent risk assessment released by the European Center for Disease Control. This is the first time the disease has been reported in these areas.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also notes that there are currently outbreaks of Oropouche in parts of Brazil (where the Pan American Health Organization reported two deaths from the virus), Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Cuba. It’s even landed in America. “There are cases that have been diagnosed in Florida in travelers,” says Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Meet the experts: Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., is an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; William Schaffner, M.D., is an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
This disease is usually spread by insect bites but tends to originate in certain species of sloths, non-human primates, and birds. But what is Oropouche and how concerned about it should Americans be? Here’s the deal, according to infectious disease doctors.
What is Oropouche, a.k.a. “sloth virus”?
The sloth virus is a name people are using to refer to Oropouche virus. This is a viral illness that can spread to people of any age and is usually mistaken for dengue, a serious infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people, per the CDC. The virus is not spread from person-to-person through coughing, touching, or sneezing, the CDC notes.
Oropouche is most common in sloths, non-human primates like monkeys, and birds, but it can spread to people through certain insects. It is usually diagnosed by a blood test.
Sloths are usually OK when they have Oropouche, though. “They are a reservoir species and reservoir species don’t usually suffer very severe consequences,” Dr. Adalja says.
Oropouche was first identified in 1955, Dr. Adalja says. Since then, “it has caused major outbreaks in South and Central America,” he says.
But the virus is on the move. “Now travelers from Europe who have been to those countries have picked it up and are bringing it back to Europe,” says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Some insects in Europe have bitten those people and can then pass it on, he explains.
Can sloths transmit diseases to humans?
Sort of. Sloths can indirectly transmit Oropouche to humans. “It infects sloths, but humans are infected by midges and mosquitoes,” Dr. Adalja says. (In case you’re not familiar with them, midges are tiny flies that are sometimes referred to as “no-see-ums.”)
Sloths can be a “reservoir” of Oropouche—meaning, they can carry it—Dr. Schaffner says. But non-human primates and birds can also be infected.
Worth noting: The European Center for Disease Control says that there is a “lack of evidence” on whether European midges or mosquitoes could spread the virus.
Symptoms of the sloth virus
According to the CDC, these are the main symptoms of Oropouche:
Headache
Fever
Muscle aches
Stiff joints
Nausea
Vomiting
Chills
Sensitivity to light
Meningitis (in severe cases)
Dr. Schaffner says the illness can come on fast, with symptoms usually starting four to eight days after someone has been bitten. “It’s usually ushered in rather abruptly and lasts for several days,” he says. People may also have lingering fatigue and joint aches for several weeks afterward, he adds.
“Oropouche can cause an illness that transiently makes you miserable,” Dr. Schaffner says. “But [most] people recover.”
“With this current outbreak, there is some concern—as there was with Zika—of mother-to-fetus transmission, leading to fetal abnormalities,” Dr. Adalja says. “This has not been confirmed, but is a subject of investigation.”
How is the sloth virus treated?
Unfortunately, there are no vaccines to prevent Oropouche or medicines to treat the disease. “It’s symptomatic treatment,” Dr. Schaffner says. That can include pain relief to help with the fever and muscle aches, as well as medications to help ease the nausea and vomiting.
Oropouche can be deadly, too. The virus can invade the nervous system, causing meningitis, encephalitis, or other serious neurological complications, per the CDC. This happens in about 4% of people who are infected, per CDC data.
Sloth virus prevention
While a lot of the focus on Oropouche is currently on Europe, and Central and South America right now, Dr. Adalja says there is a chance that the disease could spread in the U.S. “There is a risk that mosquito populations or midge populations in the U.S. could acquire the virus,” he says. Still, Oropouche is not considered a big threat to Americans at this point.
If you’re traveling to areas where Oropouche is common, Dr. Schaffner recommends using bug spray with an active ingredient that’s endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) like DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin. “If you’re traveling, spray it on liberally,” he says.
And, if you happen to develop symptoms of Oropouche after traveling to one of the areas with known cases, reach out to a doctor. “If one believes they may have this virus, they should seek medical attention, not only to be tested for it but for other diseases like malaria that have overlapping symptoms,” Dr. Adalja says.
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