A wave of "Sloth Fever" cases has reportedly rippled through Florida, as state health officials confirm nearly a dozen incidents of the Oropouche virus in Central Florida within the past week. Originating from Trinidad and Tobago in 1955 and prevalent in the Amazon basin, the virus has found its way north, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirming outbreaks in South America and the Caribbean late last year, as reported by WFTV.
The CDC has issued travel health notices for Cuba, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru due to the health risks posed by the virus. According to ClickOrlando, 30 Floridians contracted Sloth Fever in 2023 after returning from Cuba, with the following counties affected: Miami-Dade with 14 cases, Broward and Hillsborough each with five, and others, including Orange and Palm Beach counties, showing lower figures.
Notably, at least two out of over 8,000 cases this year ended fatally, with significant concern about the impact on pregnancies. Symptoms, as outlined by the CDC and reported by U.S. travelers returning from Cuba, entail a high incidence of fever (95%), severe muscle pain (86%), headaches (76%), and a range of gastrointestinal issues. In response to this emergent threat, Orange County Mosquito Control has proactively amped up mosquito population control measures through neighborhood sprays, daytime and nighttime alike.
"The emergence of Oropouche Virus, even though the cases are travel-related, is a cause for concern," Orange County Mosquito Control Manager Steve Harrison stated, as per ClickOrlando. Harrison emphasized the need to curb mosquito populations to prevent the virus from taking hold locally. Inhabitants troubled by mosquitos can seek assistance from Mosquito Control by reaching out to the county's 311 hotline.
Prevention of Sloth Fever lies in the absence of a vaccine or specific treatment, underscoring the importance of personal protective measures to fend off mosquito bites. For those inflicted, symptom treatment comprises rest, fluids, and pain and fever reducers, with most symptoms receding in under a week, though some cases involve recurrences, as detailed by WFTV.
