Unexpected Rift Valley Fever Outbreak, Northern Mauritania

Ahmed B Ould El Mamy,Katia Isselmou,Modou Moustapha Lo,Mohammed Bengoumi,Mariam Diop,Ba Hampate,Mamadou Y Diallo,Ludovic Plee,Mamadou L Dia,Stephane De La Rocque,Filip Claes,Mohamed Ould Baba,Mohamed Ould Brahim El Kory,Lilian Puech,Baba Doumbia,Yaya Thiongane,Yahya Barry

doi:10.3201/eid1710.110397

Abstract

During September–October 2010, an unprecedented outbreak of Rift Valley fever was reported in the northern Sahelian region of Mauritania after exceptionally heavy rainfall. Camels probably played a central role in the local amplification of the virus. We describe the main clinical signs (hemorrhagic fever, icterus, and nervous symptoms) observed during the outbreak.

Highlights

During September–October 2010, an unprecedented outbreak of Rift Valley fever was reported in the northern Sahelian region of Mauritania after exceptionally heavy rainfall
It should be noted that Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus was previously isolated from blood samples from healthy, naturally infected camels in Egypt and Sudan [9,10] and that experimental infections with RVF virus have induced no clinical signs in nonpregnant dromedaries [3]
We report the unusual outbreak of RVF at a northern latitude and in an extremely arid region ( RVF has been reported in Egypt, where the Nile River helps spread the disease from the south)

Summary

Introduction

During September–October 2010, an unprecedented outbreak of Rift Valley fever was reported in the northern Sahelian region of Mauritania after exceptionally heavy rainfall. A few weeks after these rains, severe outbreaks of malaria and Rift Valley fever (RVF) were reported in several oases (graret) of the Adrar region. The first probable reportable case in livestock was in a sick dromedary camel and occurred during the last week of October 2010 in the Aoujeft area; the camel’s signs were similar to those of pasteurellosis.

Results

Conclusion