LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – The Oropouche virus was first found in a person who came back to Louisville from traveling in the Caribbean. This was proven by federal, state, and local public health officials in Kentucky and Jefferson County.
A person from Jefferson County who recently returned from Cuba was diagnosed with the Oropouche virus, which is also known as “Sloth Fever.” This was confirmed by the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW), the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The person who got sick had mild signs and is now getting better.
The Oropouche virus is passed on to people by the bites of some mosquitoes and biting midges (also called “no-see-ums”).
The CDC says that there is no proof yet that the Oropouche virus is widespread in the US. As of mid-August, only 21 cases had been proven this year, and all of them were in people who had been to Cuba. People in parts of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean have said they have caught the virus.
The CDC says that an Oropouche virus infection may be like getting dengue, Zika, malaria, or chikungunya. Symptoms of an Oropouche virus infection may include fever, headache, chills, body aches, and joint pain.
Most cases with the Oropouche virus are mild and happen 3–10 days after being bitten by an infected insect. But some people may get more dangerous illnesses, like meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or problems with bleeding. Very rarely, people who get the Oropouche virus die.
More than 8,000 cases of the Oropouche virus have been reported around the world this year, and two people have died from it. Five cases of transfer during pregnancy have been linked to birth defects or death of the fetus. Countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Cuba have reported cases that were picked up locally.
There are no medicines or treatments that can protect against getting the Oropouche virus. Avoid getting bug bites. This is the best way to avoid getting the virus.
People who have recently traveled to a place where the Oropouche virus is being spread are also told to use bug repellent for three weeks after getting back home to stop midges and mosquitoes from spreading the virus to other people.