Officials have confirmed that a debilitating virus that originates in sloths and is spread by mosquitoes has been detected in Europe for the first time. In June and July, Europe saw 19 imported cases of the Oropouche virus, the European Centre for Disease Control reported. Twelve cases were reported in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The virus is spread primarily by insect bites, including mosquitoes, and has originated in yellow-throated sloths, non-human primates, and birds.
There is currently no vaccine available for this virus, which belongs to the same family of diseases as Zika virus and dengue fever.
Dr. Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, explained, Wire“We should definitely be concerned. Things are changing and it may be impossible to stop them.”
Outbreaks of the virus have already been reported in several countries in South and Central America, as well as in the Caribbean. In 2024, specific outbreaks were recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and most recently, Cuba.
Of the cases reported in Europe, 18 were related to recent travel to Cuba, while one case in Italy was related to travel to Brazil.
Oropoch can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, sometimes even more severe symptoms. These symptoms usually subside after four days. According to the ECDC, fatalities are extremely rare, and recovery is common.
However, The Lancet reported on July 25 that two deaths due to Oropoch were recorded for the first time in Brazil, involving two young women who had no underlying health problems.
Between January and mid-July, more than 8,000 cases were reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Cuba.
The ECDC assesses the risk of infection for EU citizens travelling to or residing in endemic areas as moderate, given the high number of cases in the Americas.
European authorities advise travellers to affected areas to take personal protective measures to reduce the risk of insect bites during indoor and outdoor activities, including using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
