SLOTH Fever or 'the Oropouche Virus' is a debilitating illness with nineteen confirmed cases in Europe.
The virus is transferred through infected midge and mosquito bites. It is typically found in South America and the Caribbean. It was first discovered in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.
The virus has previously been found in sloths, hence its moniker, but is not spread by the mammal.
With the high amount of midges found near local waterways, Scottish residents have been asking whether they should be concerned.
What are Sloth Fever’s symptoms?
Symptoms include headache, fever, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, vomiting, chills, or sensitivity to light. Severe cases may result in neuroinvasive diseases such as meningitis.
You do not have to have all of the symptoms to have the virus with most infected patients recovering with no lasting effects. However, there are concerns the virus could be dangerous to unborn babies, potentially causing stillbirth, miscarriage or deformities in the foetus.
Symptoms typically start 4–8 days after being bitten and last 3–6 days. There is no vaccine for this emerging virus.
Should I be worried in Scotland?
Dr Philip Veal, travel health consultant at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), told The Independent that “the midge that carries oropouche virus is not currently established in Europe. It is typically found in the Americas. There is no evidence that the virus can spread from person to person.”
While there is little risk of Scottish residents picking up the virus at home, Dr Danny Altmann, immunology professor at Imperial College London, warned The Metro that the virus is “taking off this summer in the Americas”, meaning tourists should take precautions.
UKHSA recommends that people travelling to infected areas use insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and sleeping under a treated bed.
Dr Altmann added that “Southern Europe and North America could one day be much more at risk from diseases such as Sloth Fever and Zika because global warming is allowing the midges and mosquitoes that spread them to expand the areas they can thrive.”
The UKHSA has emphasised that all European cases originated in the Americas, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
