Sloth virus: impact on travel and health

In 2002, the movie Ice Age was released with a sloth as one of the characters. Sid the sloth is one of the animated animals that survived the Pleistocene ice age. Actor John Leguizamo is the voice of Sid. Numerous sequels have continued to be released based on the popularity of the original movie. Another sequel is slated to be released in 2027. Opposite of the ice and cold, sloths thrive in a tropical forest ecosystem. They live in trees found in the rainforest canopy. Sloths are notorious for sleeping on tree limbs and they enjoy resting! Sloth images are popular on many items for their slow, restful nature. Sloths will consume leaves, twigs and bugs found in the trees. Sloths are becoming popular for something far more dangerous than their resting image. The sloth has become a host for the Oropouche virus (OROV) transmitted by midges and mosquitoes. An infected midge can transmit the disease to the sloth and then an infected sloth can transmit the disease to an uninfected midge or mosquito. The virus can be transmitted to humans via a bite from an infected midge or mosquito. The transfer of infection from an insect or animal to a human is called a zoonotic disease. Midges are very small flies that are hard to see. They can be as small as 1-3 millimeters or less than 1/8th of an inch. They are often referred to as "no-see-ums" because they are so tiny. OROV or the sloth virus was first identified in a 3-toed sloth in 1955 from Trinidad and Tobago. The disease has typically been confined to the Amazon, South America, Central American, and the Caribbean. Cases have been seen in Europe and the United States when brought by travelers whom have visited these topical areas. The OROV causes symptoms similar to the flu such as fever, headache, and muscle pain. However, severe cases can affect the central nervous system resulting in neuroinvasion. This essential means the virus invades nerves including the brain. Two cases in the U.S. have resulted in death. There is no cure or vaccine prevention for OROV. The only therapy is to treat the symptoms as they occur. Recent concern is the rise in cases reported in the United States. As of the 2024-2025 recordings by the CDC, there have been 109 cases in the U.S. with 103 of those in Florida. The other states include Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Wisconsin, and California. The large percentage of cases are reported in June, July, and August with minimal cases in the winter months. The CDC released a health advisory on August 16, 2024 related to the cases seen in the U.S. The health advisory was urging travelers and the public health to use measures for insect bite prevention. The advice was to apply an EPA-approved insect repellent, to wear protective clothing with long sleeves and long pants, to wear clothing or use gear treated with permethrin, and to seek medical attention if you developed symptoms related to the sloth virus. The CDC advisory warned pregnant patients to reconsider traveling to areas where the virus was located since there are significant birth defects and loss of pregnancy concerns with the infection. The warning included for both men and women to either abstain from sex or use condoms to protect from transmission of the virus for at least six weeks after traveling from known infection hot spots. This warning is similar to what was known about the Zika virus. OROV and Zika are both arboviruses. Do not rest on this information, consider travel plans by country and time of the year if going to an OROV area. ONU HealthWise does offer the shingles vaccine along with RSV, flu, COVID-19 and other vaccinations. The pharmacy is open at 9 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. weekdays, while closing for lunch from 1-2 p.m. Saturdays they are open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 419-772-3784 for more information. Karen L. Kier is a pharmacist with the ONU Healthwise Pharmacy.