Outbreak of Rift Valley Fever—Saudi Arabia, August-October, 2000

Abstract

On September 10 2000 the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Saudi Arabia and subsequently the MOH of Yemen received reports of unexplained hemorrhagic fever in humans and associated animal deaths from the southwestern border of both countries. Signs and symptoms of ill persons included low grade fever abdominal pain vomiting diarrhea jaundice with liver and renal dysfunction often progressing to disseminated intravascular coagulation hepatorenal syndrome and death. This paper summarizes the preliminary results of the collaborative epidemiologic investigation performed by the Saudi Arabian MOH and other health institutions of the first confirmed occurrence of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outside Africa. 316 persons with suspected severe RVF have been hospitalized for care and management. Of the 316 patients 245 (78%) were male; the median age was 46 years; 15 were aged <16 years; 253 (80%) were Saudi and 63 (20%) were Yemeni citizens. At least 66 (21%) patients have died. Efforts of the MOH to eliminate the problem are discussed.