Louisville Metro health officials confirm case of sloth fever

A virus transmitted from Central and South America and parts of the Caribbean has been detected in Jefferson County, officials with the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness said in a news release Wednesday.

A Jefferson County resident who recently traveled to Cuba has been diagnosed with the Oropouche virus, also known as “sloth fever.” This is the first case of the virus ever reported in the county, the release said. The infected person is showing mild symptoms and is expected to recover.

The Oropouche virus is transmitted to humans by small flies called midges and certain species of mosquitoes. In the United States, 21 cases have been reported this year among people who traveled to Cuba, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, there is no evidence that the virus is spreading within the United States.

The symptoms experienced by infected people, including fever, headache, chills, body aches and joint pain, are usually mild and last about three to ten days, the press release said.

The virus can cause more serious illness such as meningitis, encephalitis or bleeding complications, but deaths from infection are rare. Of the 8,000 cases reported worldwide this year, only two resulted in death, according to the CDC.

Pregnant women who become infected with the virus may be at increased risk because the infection can be transmitted to the fetus, which can result in birth defects or fetal death.