Twenty-one Americans are diagnosed with terrifying sloth fever READ MORE: Terrifying 'sloth fever' is detected in US vacation hotspot IF YOU HAVE A HEALTH STORY, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IT. GET IN TOUCH HEALTH@DAILYMAIL.COM By Emily Joshu Health Reporter For Dailymail.
Com Published: 20:02 BST, 27 August 2024 | Updated: 20:02 BST, 27 August 2024 e-mail View comments Twenty-one Americans have been diagnosed with a virus that originated in sloths and is spread by mosquitos. The US Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) said the patients were diagnosed with the Oropouche virus after returning to the US from Cuba . Twenty of the cases were in Florida and one is in New York.
The most common symptoms were fevers, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue and stiffness. Three patients were hospitalized, but there were no deaths. The Oropouche virus is spread by mosquitos in tropical parts of the Caribbean and South America where it has been causing an unprecedented outbreak since late last year.
The Oropouche virus is nicknamed sloth fever not because it's transmitted by sloths, but because the animals can be carriers for the disease The Oropouche virus is spread primarily by bites from a bug called a midge. Sometimes, mosquitos also carry it In rare cases, it can cause brain swelling and death, and claimed the life of two healthy Brazilian women earlier this year. In 2024, there have been more than 8,000 cases reported in Central and South America - causing two deaths, one miscarriage and four newbor.