Oropouche: The mysterious ‘sloth virus’ with no treatment

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Most worryingly for public health officials, a growing number of cases are now occurring in non-Amazonian areas, and they have been documented in 10 states outside of the Amazon region in Brazil, as well as Cuba.

Recent unpublished analysis of the virus behind the latest outbreaks suggests its genetic code has undergone some reshuffling that led to it replicating more efficiently in the cells of infected individuals. This means the virus can produce far higher numbers of itself once it infects a cell and hijacks the cellular machinery.

This would not only allow the virus to potentially cause more severe disease in infected individuals, it also increases the chances of biting insects picking up the virus when feeding and passing it on.

While the virus's ability to hide within immune cells means it could remain relatively hidden from the body's defence system, there are some signs the virus may be more resistant to the immune response of people previously infected with Oropouche.

Scientists also believe that increased urban development into areas that were once forest may also be playing a role in the new outbreaks. They say that the effects of climate change are increasing the number of areas where the insects that spread the virus can live, meaning the virus is likely to continue expanding beyond its historic range in South America.

What are the symptoms of Oropouche? The virus causes a flu-like fever in infected people, along with a headache, muscle aches, stiff joints, nausea, chills, sensitivity to light and vomiting. In severe cases it can cause meningitis. In general, the symptoms are similar to other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya, Zika and malaria.

According to the CDC, symptoms typically start three to 10 days after being bitten and last for three to six days. Symptoms can reoccur a few days or weeks later in up to 60% of patients, and tend to be similar on relapse. It is not clear what causes these relapses; it could be the same infection re-emerging, or people living in areas with a high prevalence of virus-carrying insects being re-infected.

How deadly is Oropouche fever? On 25 July, authorities in Brazil recorded the known first deaths from Oropouche fever. The two women were aged 21-years-old and 24-years-old, with neither having any pre-existing health conditions.

A report by the Brazilian Ministry of Health has also suggested that the virus could be transmitted from pregnant women to their foetuses, and reported the death of one unborn child. It has also reported a miscarriage associated with Oropouche infection. Four cases of newborns with microcephaly – a birth defect where the baby's head is smaller than expected – were also reported to be associated with the virus.

However, the effects of Oropouche on pregnancies and unborn children remains unproven and is being investigated.

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