9 December 2019 – The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) of Sudan reported 15 new cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) during epidemiological week 49 (1–7 December) of 2019. The cumulative number of reported cases since week 31 (28 July–5 August) this year is 365 including 11 associated deaths, giving a case fatality rate of 3.0%. The attack rate was 0.8 per 10 000 population. Among all reported cases, 57% were male and 87.1% were older than 15 years. The most affected age group were 45 years and above, which accounted for 29.3% of all cases.
The outbreak was reported in week 37 (8–14 September) from Red Sea State. The number of cases increased gradually to reach its peak in week 42, when 89 cases were reported. Currently, 13 localities are reporting RVF cases in the states of Algdaref, Al Jazirah, Kassala, Khartoum, Red Sea, River Nile and White Nile. The highest reporting state is River Nile (231 cases) followed by Red Sea (128 cases).
All of the cases complained of fever. Other frequent symptoms included headaches followed by joint pain (78.4% and 46.8%, respectively). Only 3.8% reported bleeding.
Blood samples were collected from 107 patients, with 53 testing positive and 27 negative, as reported by the National Public Health Laboratory of Sudan. Results for 19 samples are still pending.
WHO continues to provide leadership and support for activities with health authorities and partners to respond to this ongoing RVF outbreak, including case management, surveillance, laboratory investigations and risk communication. Entomological surveillance and vector control measures are also being implemented. Coordination between the FMoH, the animal health sector, the Ministry of Agriculture, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WHO have been strengthened.
Subscribe to the monthly newsletter from the Infectious Hazard Preparedness unit of the Health Emergencies Programme for the latest data and analysis on epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases as well as news on outbreak preparedness and response within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
