The virus has recently been detected in Europe for the first time, with 19 cases reported in Spain, Italy and Germany.
With the cases of over black, monkeypox y bird flu Worrying health authorities around the world, there is another deadly virus causing concern.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has alerted to doctors and authorities public health about the increase in cases of Oropouche virus disease (OROV) in America, and it is expected that new cases may be reported in other countries.
In June and July of this year, 19 cases of Oropouche virus disease, also called “sloth fever”, were reported for the first time in European countries.
Of them, 12 cases occurred in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany, according to a published report by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) earlier this month.
These cases were imported by travelers returning from regions where the virus is active, including Cuba and Brazil, the ECDC said. He virus de Oropouche It spreads mainly in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
Last month, Brazil reported its first deaths from the virus, with two women aged 21 and 24 succumbing to severe bleeding and hypotension amid an outbreak of the virus. disease.
Additionally, the previous month, a woman who had symptoms of Oropouche virus lost her baby at 30 weeks, and the virus was subsequently detected in the umbilical cord and organs.
What are the risks of the “laziness virus” in Europe?
Oropouche virus is primarily transmitted to humans through bites of mosquitos infected. However, in some cases, mosquitoes can also carry and spread the virus.
According to the ECDCAlthough the mosquitoes responsible for the spread of Oropouche virus are common in the Americas, they are not found in Europe, and there is little evidence that European organisms can transmit the virus.
There is also no evidence to suggest that the virus can spread directly from person to person. However, reports from Brazilian Ministry of Health indicate that transmission from a pregnant mother to her child can occur.
In these cases, the virus can cause complications such as spontaneous abortions and fetal malformations. “The probability of human exposure to OROV in the EU/EEA is considered very low, despite the possible importation of new cases of disease due to OROV“says the risk assessment of the ECDC.
Even so, although the risk of contracting OROV disease within Europe remains low, the probability of infection may increase under certain circumstances.
For example, citizens traveling or residing in epidemic zones of Americaof the South and Central face a moderate risk of infection. This risk is higher for those visiting the most affected regions, such as northern Brazil or the Amazonespecially if they do not take personal protection measures.
However, the risk assessment indicates that “given the good recovery forecast, the impact is assessed as low.”
What are the symptoms of “lazy fever”?
“Sloth fever” infection initially presents with sudden high feveralong with severe headache, chills, muscle pain, and joint pain.
According to the CDC, other symptoms reported by those affected include sensitivity to light, dizziness, eye pain, nausea, vomiting, and a rash that begins on the body and spreads to the arms and legs.
In some less common cases, people may also experience redness of the eyes, diarrhea, severe stomach pain and bleeding. These symptoms They usually appear between three and ten days after exposure and generally last between two and seven days. However, in up to 60% of cases, symptoms may reappear days or weeks later with a similar intensity.
Currently There are no vaccines or specific medications to prevent or treat Oropouche virus disease. The best preventive measures They consist of avoiding gnat and mosquito bites in areas where the virus is present by using repellents, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
