'Sloth virus' reported in Europe for 1st time — but what is it?

Oropouche virus disease, a Zika-like illness that spreads in the Americas, has been detected in Europe for the first time, affecting people in Spain, Italy and Germany.

Meanwhile, officials are investigating whether the germ may cause poor outcomes in pregnancy, similar to those associated with Zika virus.

In June and July, 19 cases of Oropouche virus disease were detected in Europe among travelers returning from Cuba or Brazil, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The illness is spread to humans by midges, a type of biting fly, as well as mosquitoes.

"The prognosis for recovery is good and fatal outcomes are extremely rare," the agency said in a risk assessment published Aug. 9.

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Oropouche virus can cause symptoms similar to Zika, including sudden fever, muscle aches, light sensitivity, eye pain, vomiting and rash. In roughly 4% of cases, the virus can infect the nervous system, causing iNFLaMMAtion around the spinal cord and brain or within the brain itself. Nonetheless, most people recover within several days to a month.

That said, recently, Brazil reported a handful of cases that investigators suspect passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy. These infections were tentatively linked to poor outcomes, including pregnancy loss and microcephaly, which causes a baby's head to be much smaller than average.