More than 20 people returning to the U.S. from Cuba have been infected with Oropouche virus disease, also known as sloth fever, which is transmitted by bugs. The virus is native to forested tropical areas and is spread to humans by small biting flies called midges and some types of mosquitoes. The virus was first identified in 1955 and has caused large outbreaks in South America and the Caribbean, with about 8,000 locally acquired cases reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, and Peru.
Symptoms of Oropouche virus disease include fever, headaches, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Some patients may suffer more severe symptoms such as bleeding, meningitis, and encephalitis, though the virus is rarely fatal. There are no vaccines to prevent infections or medicines available to treat the symptoms.
Concerns have been raised about the potential transmission of the virus from pregnant women to their fetuses, similar to what was seen during Zika outbreaks in the past. The CDC has recommended that pregnant women avoid non-essential travel to Cuba and all travelers take precautions to prevent bug bites, such as using insect repellents and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Though there have been cases of Oropouche virus disease in the U.S. and Europe, there is no evidence that it is spreading in the United States and no deaths have been reported. Officials are warning U.S. doctors to be on the lookout for the infection in travelers coming from Cuba and South America.
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