The CDC reported Tuesday that 21 cases of Oropouche virus disease, or "sloth fever," have been detected in the U.S. as of Aug. 16, including one case in New York.

The virus was detected in U.S. travelers returning from Cuba, according to the CDC. The first case of Oropouche virus in Cuba was reported in May, and it has previously been reported in parts of South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

UConn Health Division of Infectious Diseases Chief Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus said that Oropouche virus disease "presents similarly" to other viral infections, such as Dengue, in terms of how it's transmitted and where the disease originates from.

"It's called sloth fever because that's one of the hosts in the natural environment," Dieckhaus said. "Primates and other animals might be the host, and then it transmits to humans based from mosquitoes or, in some cases, midges."

Dieckhaus said that several types of mosquitoes and midges, also known as "no-see-ums," can transmit Oropouche virus disease to humans. Although many people are asymptomatic to the disease, Dieckhaus said that around 60% of people do experience symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, eye pain and rashes.

"This (disease) is particularly concerning because it can also occasionally get into the central nervous system and cause problems," Dieckhaus said. "It can cause a meningitis, or it can cause an encephalitis. Most concerning recently, there have been a couple of descriptions of people who have died."

The first two deaths related to the disease in Brazil were recorded in July, according to the World Health Organization. A fetal death, a miscarriage, four cases of stillbirth and other cases involving birth defects with newborns due to Oropouche virus disease were also reported in July.

"It wasn't previously recognized as being a severe illness that caused fatalities," Dieckhaus said. "As the number of cases are going up, we're starting to get some description of abnormal birth defects and stillbirths associated with it."

Several other mosquito-borne diseases and infections, including eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, have been reported throughout New England in August. There is no vaccine or antivirus available for EEE, and about a third of people who develop encephalitis from the virus die.

Dieckhaus said there is also currently no treatment or vaccination for Oropouche virus. He said that Connecticut residents planning to travel to South America, Central America or the Caribbean should visit UConn Health's International Traveler's Medical Service for up-to-date, appropriate vaccinations before they travel.

Dieckhaus also advised travelers to wear long sleeves, long pants and insect repellent while traveling.

"If you're pregnant and you need to (travel), you need to double down on doing insect prevention," he said. "Consider deferring your trip until we get things sorted out and figure out what the real risk is and how to address it."

Dieckhaus said that medical recommendations will likely become more specific as more information becomes available about Oropouche virus.

"The data is likely going to evolve and change," Dieckhaus said. "We're going to get more information on what the real risk is to pregnant women or women who may become pregnant, what the real risk is in terms of going to specific areas...this is an evolving story."