Rift valley fever outbreak in Mali

Close to 40 people have been infected following an outbreak of rift valley fever in Tchintabaraden, a border community between Mali and Niger.

The outbreak of the fever was confirmed after blood samples sent to Dakar for analyses tested positive.

The first case of rift valley fever diagnosed in August affected mostly nomads in the area.

Mali’s health minister and Médicins Sans Frontières have sent experts to find out the cause of the current outbreak and put in place an emergency intervention plan to stop the epidemic.

Rift valley fever primarily affects animals but also has the capacity to infect humans.

It is transmitted through direct or indirect contact with the blood or organs of infected animals, ingestion of uncooked milk as well as bites from infected mosquitoes.