The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States issued a health alert on Friday to notify doctors and public health authorities about an increase in cases of the Ouroboros virus in the Americas, which has caused two deaths since the beginning of this year. The Ouroboros virus spreads through bites from infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of the disease include headaches, fever, and muscle pain, with severe cases leading to meningitis.
The CDC reported that between January 1 and August 1, more than eight thousand cases of the disease have been reported, including two deaths and five cases of the virus being transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy.
Countries that have reported cases include Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Cuba, with cases linked to travel noted in the United States and Europe among individuals returning from Cuba and Brazil. The CDC recommended testing and assessment for travelers who have been in affected areas showing signs and symptoms consistent with Ouroboros infection.
The CDC anticipates that cases may emerge in other countries as testing and surveillance increase in the Americas. In a statement to the British newspaper "The Telegraph," Dr. Danny Altman, a professor of immunology at the Royal College in London, said, "This virus is concerning; things are evolving and may become uncontrollable."
