The Dec 14 WHO weekly bulletin issued an update on an outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) that was first reported in early November, with a single case detected in three health districts of Fatick and Matam medical zones. The agency notes that RVF outbreaks have occurred in Senegal in the past and response measures to these cases must include community education on the use of mosquito nets and correct handling of body tissues of potentially infected animals. Read more
Advice for travellers
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute viral disease that typically infects domesticated herd animals. It is generally found in eastern and southern Africa where sheep and cattle are raised, as well as in West Africa, Madagascar, and more recently Saudi Arabia and Yemen. People are infected after exposure to blood, body fluids, or the tissue of RVF-infected animals, or from the bite of an infected mosquito. The virus presents a low risk to travellers, but is another reason to use personal insect repellent and take other steps to minimise insect bites in places where it occurs. Read more about RVF.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.