Sloth Fever: A New Deadly Fever Spreading Across Europe
The new deadly disease or rather a ‘sloth fever’ has cropped up in Europe and the United States, and health practitioners are fretting since there is no known antidote to this disease. Also known as Oropouche fever, it resembles dengue fever and its signs are — fever, headaches, muscular pains, nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, and photophobia. In some instances it can cause serious conditions such as meningitis or encephalitis that put the health of the nervous system at risk.
People get infected from the bites of infected Mosquitoes and Midge from infected sloths, monkeys, or birds. Travelling the globe and improved climate that has enlarged the habitats of bugs that spread the virus have helped to spread the virus in Europe and the USA.
That is why, according to the facts, there have been more than 20 American travelers who were positive for COVID, in Cuba, and 19 cases in Europe. We are witnessing more cases of COVID 19 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC is keeping a close eye to the situation as it unfolds.
There is no cure or vaccine for sloth fever and therefore, preventing the occurrence is very important. The following preventive measures are recommended for people in the areas: Apply insect repellents with DEET; wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants; use mosquito nets, particularly when sleeping. Also, avoiding areas which the vectors are actively present such as during dawn and dusk is also important in preventing bites and stings. Consumers visiting areas with malaria should make sure that the rooms they use or travel in are screened or air conditioned.
Diagnosis of SFF has remained a major challenge to the medical fraternity because the symptoms are similar to those of the other viral diseases such as dengue and Zika. Today there is no cure for this condition and it is mainly treated by addressing its symptoms with the help of certain medications and other kinds of support. Current efforts are directed towards understanding virus pathogenesis, and the identification of diagnostics and antiviral treatments, despite which, advancement will be gradual. On the other hand, the general population health education and measures can be considered as the only shield against this new threat.
