By NewsDesk @bactiman63
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan reports that since late September, Sudan has seen 193 Rift Valley Fever (RVF) cases, including four deaths. The cases were reported from Red Sea, River Nile and Khartoum states. More than half have been reported from Red Sea State.
The State Ministry of Health (SMoH) activated response taskforce meetings and developed state-level preparedness and response plans. Case definition and management training has been provided to 131 medical staff and an isolation center has been established in Tagadom hospital in Red Sea State.
In addition, 2,200 mosquito nets have been distributed, 1,330 homes have been inspected for breeding sites and 3,542 homes have been fogged in the state. Health promotion activities have been carried out at the household and community levels.
According to WHO, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes and blood feeding flies that usually affects animals (commonly cattle and sheep) but can also involve humans. In humans the disease ranges from a mild flu-like illness to severe hemorrhagic fever that can be lethal. When livestock are infected the disease can cause significant economic losses due to high mortality rate in young animals and waves of abortions in pregnant females.
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
The majority of human infections result from direct or indirect contact with the blood or organs of infected animals. The virus can be transmitted to humans through the handling of animal tissue during slaughtering or butchering, assisting with animal births, conducting veterinary procedures, or from the disposal of carcasses or fetuses. Certain occupational groups such as herders, farmers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians are therefore at higher risk of infection.
Kenya: 1/4 of counties have reported cholera
Africa: Burundi malaria cases rise to 6.8 million cases through September
Ethiopia chikungunya cases top 50,000, Measles and cholera updates
