what is sloth fever the aush virus and its symptoms explained the aush virus a potentially fatal disease also referred to as sloth fever has made its way to the United States prompting questions about what Americans should know on Tuesday Florida's Health Department reported 30 cases of orap push fever in the state all linked to travel from Cuba there has also been one case reported in New York following travel in an update Tuesday the CDC said at least three of the initial cases reported in the US were hospitalized and that the agency is currently developing a plan for Rapid detection and response to the virus earlier this month the Centers for Disease Control and prevention issued a health advisory to notify clinicians and public health authorities of an increase in the virus between January 1st and August 1st 2024 more than 8,000 cases of or aush virus disease were reported including two deaths and five cases of vertical transmission associated with fetal death or congenital abnormalities the CDC alert stated adding countries reporting cases include Brazil Bolivia Peru Colombia and Cuba no evidence of local transmission currently exists within the United States or its territories the CDC added how is sloth fever transmitted or aush virus is spread to people primarily by the bite of infected biting midges a type of small fly and mosquitoes according to the CDC the virus is transmitted in forested areas between mosquitoes and non-human vertebrate hosts such as Birds rodents and sloths which is where its nickname is derived humans then become infected while visiting these areas and can introduce the virus to Urban environments sloth fever symptoms sloth fever can present similarly to other mosquito born diseases like Deni or changanya fever according to the New York State Department of Health which can make identifying challenging the health department said most often symptoms include fever chills headache muscle aches and pains joint stiffness according to the CDC other symptoms can include sensitivity to light dizziness pain behind the eyes nausea vomiting rash symptoms typically last less Les than a week 2 to 7 days and can often reoccur a few days or even Weeks Later most people with Ora push recover within several days to 1 month the CDC noted on its website some people fewer than one in 20 will develop more serious disease this includes menitis inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord en sephtis inflammation of the brain or bleeding sloth fever treatment and prevention there are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat or aush according to the CDC the best way to protect yourself is avoiding bug bites you can do this by using insect repellent using window and door screens and using a fan Outdoors to keep bugs away the CDC recommends the CDC is also recommending that pregnant people avoid non-essential travel to areas of infection including Cuba and Brazil