Mosquito-borne viruses will soon be 'new normal': Doctor

(NewsNation) — Dr. Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine warns that rare mosquito-transmitted viruses, particularly sloth fever and eastern equine encephalitis, are “accelerating” and will soon be a “new normal” in the United States.

People in some areas of Massachusetts have been warned to stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active after a case of eastern equine encephalitis was discovered. One infected resident died, state health authorities said Tuesday.

And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, was recently hospitalized after he came down with West Nile virus.

More than 20 people returning to the U.S. from Cuba have been infected with a virus transmitted by bugs in recent months, federal health officials said Tuesday. They all had Oropouche virus disease, also known as sloth fever.

None have died, and there is no evidence that it’s spreading in the United States. But officials are warning U.S. doctors to be on the lookout for the infection in travelers coming from Cuba and South America.

“It’s a hemisphere-wide problem,” Hotez said on “CUOMO.” “We’re seeing the thousands of cases of the sloth fever in Brazil. … West Nile Virus is on the rise. … We’re getting ready. This is going to be one of our new normals, unfortunately, in summer and early fall in the United States.”

Hotez said it’s important for people to take “personal protective measures.”

“Even though the weather is warm, I’m in full sweatpants. And I put on insect repellent that contains 40% DEET. … That’s important, as well as the county and the city doing appropriate mosquito-control interventions,” Hotez added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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