Oropouche virus cases rise in US travelers from Cuba

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 21 cases of Oropouche virus disease, commonly referred to as sloth fever, among travelers returning from Cuba. The majority of these cases, 20 in total, were identified in Florida, with one case reported in New York. Symptoms typically include headache, fever, muscle aches, and joint pains, although the disease is rarely fatal. Most patients began experiencing symptoms between May and July, with three requiring hospitalization but no fatalities reported. The virus is primarily transmitted through bites from midges and certain mosquitoes, and there is currently no evidence of the virus spreading within the United States. Health officials are urging doctors to remain vigilant for potential cases in travelers from Cuba and South America. The CDC has noted that the virus is endemic to the Amazon basin, with over 8,000 cases reported in countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Cuba this year, including two deaths. Frequent power outages in Cuba have led many residents to sleep with windows open, increasing their exposure to insect bites. Additionally, limited access to insect repellents and fumigation efforts hinder efforts to control the spread of the virus. The CDC has advised pregnant women to avoid non-essential travel to Cuba and recommended that all travelers take precautions against insect bites. Currently, there are no vaccines available for Oropouche virus disease, and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms through rest, hydration, and the use of analgesics and antipyretics. Approximately 60% of those infected exhibit symptoms, with an incubation period ranging from three to ten days. The virus was first identified in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, and its association with sloths stems from early research linking the animals to its transmission.