Sloth Fever: The Deadly Virus Spreading Across the US and Its Dangers

A potentially fatal virus known as “sloth fever” has found its way to the United States, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue an alert. The Oropouche virus is often found in South America, Central America, and the Caribbeans. 

It spreads mostly by the bite of infected midges, which are tiny biting insects. Mosquitoes are also known carriers of the virus. It is sometimes called the “sloth virus” or “sloth fever” since sloths are among the species that become afflicted.

According to the medical journal The Lancet, the virus can be found in pale-throated sloths, non-human primates, and birds. “The term ‘sloth fever’ is a colloquial name that has emerged due to the virus being found in areas where sloths, which are known to carry a range of parasites and pathogens, are present,” said Carolina Goncalves.

Goncalves is the superintendent pharmacist at Pharmaca, per the Independent. “However, the name is relatively misleading as it is spread by insect bites, not by direct contact with sloths,” she added.

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Where Did the “Sloth Fever” Originate?

The Oropouche virus, which was discovered in 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago, is now endemic in portions of South America. However, in the last year, there have been far more instances and outbreaks elsewhere than in the Amazon basin, where such infection is usually located.

Florida reported 20 travel-related Oropouche virus infections, nine of which occurred in August. This year, there were more than 8,000 reported cases between January 1 and August 1, compared to 832 confirmed cases in 2023.

Two of these occurrences from this deadly virus resulted in fatalities in Brazil. There were also five cases when transmission resulted in fetal mortality or birth abnormalities. Alarmingly, the virus has also appeared in parts of Europe, indicating a greater chance of global spread.

Symptoms of Sloth Fever

Approximately 60% of persons affected with the virus will develop symptoms such as fever, light sensitivity, disorientation, nausea and vomiting, severe headache, joint and muscular pain, chills, or rash. 

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Severe abdominal discomfort, hemorrhagic signs, and meningitis, which causes inflammation in the brain and spinal cord, are all serious symptoms. Once grave signs arise, death is probable, albeit this is unusual.

Most symptoms persist for less than a week. The CDC, on the other hand, stated that they frequently recur days or even weeks later. Unfortunately, there are no treatments or vaccines for the Oropouche virus.

According to health experts, the greatest defence against midge and mosquito bites is insect repellent or door and window screens. The CDC also advises pregnant women to avoid unnecessary travel to areas of illness, such as Cuba and Brazil.

The CDC issued a health advisory regarding the likelihood of transmission from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy.

Can a Sloth Be a Pet?

Sloths are wild creatures. Though they may appear as adorable as our domestic pets, sloths retain their inherent impulses. They do not enjoy being petted, combed, or bathed. 

They frequently do not display clear, visible indicators of stress. Because a sloth’s natural response to fear or danger is to remain motionless, it might be difficult to determine whether it is distressed.

Sloths are known for their long claws, which are sharper than they appear. They have very big teeth that can cause major injury if the sloth is afraid or agitated.

Every state has its own set of rules that govern which animals can be kept as pets. Though some states do not require authorization to keep sloths as pets, others demand that you seek a special permit.

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Sloths have evolved to a specialized habitat. A substantial sum of money would be required to recreate a comfortable and appropriate environment for a pet sloth. They have adapted to a particular environment, hanging high on trees in warm, damp rainforests, as they have extremely low body temperatures and cannot endure cold.

How Long Do Sloths Live?

Two-toed sloths are thought to have an average lifespan of up to 20 years. However, because little research has been conducted on sloth species in their natural settings, estimating their typical lifetime is challenging. 

In captivity, Hoffman’s two-toed sloth, commonly known as ‘Miss C’, lived to be 43 years old, which was twice as long as other wild sloths of the species.

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