A debilitating virus originating in sloths and spread by insect bites including mosquitoes and gnats has been reported for the first time in Europe.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 19 cases of the Oropouche virus have been detected in people in the past two months.
There have been 12 cases in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany. There is no vaccine against the disease, which originates in clear-throated sloths, non-human primates and birds.
Experts say the virus comes from the same family of diseases as Zika and dengue, both of which are potentially deadly.
Telltale signs of Oropouche include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain.
There is no vaccine against the disease, which originates in pale-throated sloths, non-human primates and birds.
Dr Danny Altmann, professor of immunology at Imperial College London, told The Telegraph: “We should definitely be worried. Things are changing and they may become unstoppable.”
Symptoms usually begin four to eight days after the bite and in severe cases the illness can progress to meningitis, according to the NHS Travax website.
Although it is potentially life-threatening, the ECDC said fatal outcomes are extremely rare and recovery from the disease is common. In most cases, symptoms disappear within four days.
To date, outbreaks of the virus have been reported in several countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean.
In 2024, specific outbreaks have been recorded in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and more recently in Cuba.
Eighteen of the cases reported in Europe reported recent travel to Cuba and one case in Italy had traveled to Brazil.
According to a report published in the LancetOn July 25, two deaths caused by Oropouche were reported for the first time in Brazil, in two young women who had no other underlying health conditions.
Although cases remain low in Europe, more than 8,000 cases have been recorded between January and mid-July this year in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Cuba.
Due to these high numbers, the ECDC has stated that the probability of infection for EU citizens travelling to or residing in epidemic areas is currently assessed as moderate.
The European authority recommends that those travelling to affected areas use insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to reduce the risk of bites.