VOA American health officials have identified a virus spread by insects in more than 20 people who visited Cuba. The virus is officially called Oropouche. It is also known as sloth fever.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said August 27 it had received reports of 21 cases in the United States. All of the cases – 20 in Florida and one in New York – involved people who had traveled to Cuba.
European health officials said they had identified 19 cases of the virus, nearly all of them in travelers.
The CDC explains that Oropouche is usually spread through the bites of small flies called midges, as well as mosquitoes. Signs, or symptoms, of the sickness usually start three to 10 days after an insect bite. They can include headache, high temperature, joint stiffness, stomach problems and sensitivity to light.
The CDC says most virus cases last from three to six days and people generally recover without any long-term effects. There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for the sickness.