US, Europe Report 'Sloth Fever' Cases
Thousands of cases of the Oropouche virus, dubbed 'Sloth Fever,' have been reported around the world this year. This now includes 21 cases in the US and 19 in Europe, all of whom are believed to have contracted the virus while traveling to Cuba and Brazil....
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Facts
- Thousands of cases of the Oropouche virus, dubbed 'Sloth Fever,' have been reported around the world this year. This now includes 21 cases in the US and 19 in Europe, all of whom are believed to have contracted the virus while traveling to Cuba and Brazil.[1][2]
- Sloth Fever comes from insects like midges and mosquitoes, which then transmit it when they bite animals including sloths (who are regularly infected), birds, rodents, and also humans. Symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, sensitivity to light, and vomiting, among others.[3][4]
- Of the 8K cases reported globally this year, up from 832 last year, at least 20 have now appeared in Florida and one in New York. The virus is endemic to South America and the Caribbean, with cases also found in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia.[4][3]
- While no deaths have been reported in the US or Europe, two healthy young people reportedly died from the virus in Brazil, with several pregnant women in Brazil also believed to have passed it along to their unborn babies.[5]
- Sloth Fever is particularly concerning for pregnant women. Of the five such cases reported in Brazil, one resulted in fetal death, another a miscarriage, and three babies were born with microcephaly, which means having an abnormally small head.[1]
- This comes as another mosquito-borne virus, called eastern equine encephalitis virus, or 'Triple E' virus, has been reported in the northeast US, resulting in one death in New Hampshire. Triple E virus causes inflammation or swelling of the brain.[6]
Sources: [1]Washington Post, [2]FOX Weather, [3]CBS, [4]New York Post, [5]Breitbart and [6]Al Jazeera.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Youtube and FT. Not only are Sloth Fever and Triple E viruses on the rise, but West Nile virus is also concerningly sweeping through the US. As more and more cases appear, individuals must take precautions including wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, using mosquito repellent, and getting rid of standing water. These cases are more examples of the increasing risks of disease to all of us in a warming world — with a disproportionate risk to those in developing countries.
- Narrative B, as provided by FOX News and MN Dept. of Health. There must be a more systemic approach to smartly containing these outbreaks. Immigration and international travel should be monitored with appropriate health protocols in the US and other nations. Governments must do a better job at screening individuals, and travelers should be better educated on pre- and post-travel health guidance. Proactive government intervention can go a long way towards more effectively snuffing these disease flare-ups when they reach international borders.
