The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently confirmed a new outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Mauritania and Senegal, Western Africa. The disease, primarily affecting animals, occasionally infects humans, raising concerns about zoonotic spillover and public health preparedness in the region.
About the Disease
- Causative Agent: RVF is caused by a Phlebovirus of the Phenuiviridae family.
- Primary Hosts: The virus mainly infects domestic livestock such as sheep, goats, cattle, and camels.
- Transmission:
- To humans – through direct contact with infected animal tissue, blood, or fluids, or mosquito bites.
- Human-to-human transmission has not been recorded.
- Different mosquito species act as carriers, varying by region.
Origin and Spread
- The disease was first identified in the Rift Valley of Kenya in the 1930s.
- Later spread to Egypt (1977) and across sub-Saharan Africa.
- In 2000, it reached Saudi Arabia and Yemen, marking its first appearance outside Africa.
Clinical Symptoms
- Mild Infection (≈90% cases): High fever, muscle and joint pain, headache, and fatigue — often resembling influenza.
- Severe Infection: In some patients, it affects the eyes, liver, or brain, leading to hemorrhagic fever or encephalitis.
Treatment and Control
- There is no specific antiviral treatment; management is supportive, focusing on hydration and symptom relief.
- Preventive measures:
- Vector control (mosquito management).
- Avoiding contact with infected animals.
- Strengthening surveillance and early warning systems.
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