ProMED reports nearly 300 confirmed cases of Rift Valley fever

Cases of Rift Valley fever in Sudan have now reached 293 people, according to data gathered by the Program for Monitoring Emergency Diseases (ProMED) between Sept. 19, 2019, and Nov. 11, 2019.

The cases, which have led to 11 associated deaths, were reported in six states: the Red Sea, River Nile, Kassala, White Nile, Khartoum, and Al Qadarif states.

ProMED reports that these human cases are associated with abortions and deaths among goats in the areas where human suspected and confirmed cases have been reported. An additional recent factor includes the heavy August rains and associated flooding. Uncontrolled movements of animal populations in the Sudanese region have likely also contributed to the spread of the disease to new areas.

Endemic to the region, Rift Valley fever has caused three outbreaks affecting humans since 1973. The most recent, in 2008, inflicted 747 lab-confirmed cases, including 230 deaths.

In the ongoing cases, those most affected have been individuals between the ages of 15 and 45, at 83 percent of the total suspected cases. Farmers also represent a sizeable section of the affected, at more than one-third of cases. The fever is also hitting the populace at a male to female ratio of 2.6.

Two Rift Valley fever Task Committees have been formed in the Red Sea state and River Nile state, respectively. Vaccines are being distributed and surveillance teams have been deployed for daily reporting and tracking active cases. Health centers are being established, along with household inspections. The River Nile state has kicked off Integrated Vector Management, surveillance, case management, and rapid response team activities to combat the disease’s spread.