New Alert Over Deadly Incurable Virus Found in Spain
Doctors are being warned to watch out for symptoms of a deadly virus found in UK holiday hotspot destinations, including the Canary Islands, which has no cure. The mosquito-borne Oropouche virus, also known as Sloth Fever, has raised concerns as the Centers for Disease Control in America issue a warning echoed by the British Medical Journal in the UK. With over 8,000 global cases this year, including three new cases identified in the Canary Islands, the first-ever deaths from the disease have been recorded recently.
The virus, which was previously confined to the Amazon region in animals, is now spreading globally with evidence of vertical transmission from women to their fetuses. This transmission may cause birth defects and stillbirths, sparking alarm from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) over 19 cases in Europe, primarily in Spain and Germany in the past months. Recent patients include individuals in Tenerife and Gran Canaria.
Various factors like enhanced surveillance, climate change, and potential virus changes contribute to the outbreak, according to Dr. Enny Paixao from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The virus, mainly transmitted by insect bites, displays symptoms like rash, headache, muscle or joint pain, and weakness. Affected individuals typically experience an illness with fever three to eight days post-infection.
Carolina Goncalves from Pharmica mentions that the colloquially named “sloth fever” is misleading as it spreads through insect bites, not direct sloth contact. Despite limited knowledge of the virus, concerns arise regarding the potential harmful effects on unborn fetuses in South America. Currently, there are no specific antiviral treatments or vaccines available for the Oropouche virus.
- Alert issued for deadly virus in Spain and UK holiday destinations
- Oropouche virus, or Sloth Fever, causes concern with no cure
- Over 8,000 global cases reported, leading to the first deaths
- Vertical transmission linked to birth defects and stillbirths
- European cases rise, with recent ones in the Canary Islands
- Factors like climate change contribute to virus spread
- Common symptoms include rash, headache, and muscle pain
- No specific antiviral treatments or vaccines available