To date, a total of 32 human laboratory cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) have been confirmed by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Free State with two deaths and one in Northern Cape.
Two cases of Congo Fever, one in Free State and one in Northern Cape, have also been confirmed.
RVF is a viral disease that can cause severe disease in a low proportion of infected humans. Humans become infected from contact with infected tissues of livestock and less frequently from mosquito bites.
There is no specific treatment for RVF. There is no routine vaccine available for humans. Symptoms of RVF usually last from four to seven days, after which time the immune response becomes detectable with the appearance of antibodies and the virus gradually disappears from the blood.
The outbreak among people is still confined in the Free State and Northern Cape provinces.
Most of these cases reported direct contact with RVF-infected livestock and or linked to farms with confirmed animal cases of RVF. The human cases are; farmers, veterinarians and farm workers. Additional suspect cases are currently being tested.
Outbreak investigations by the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are being supported by the South African Field Epidemiology and Training Programme (SA-FELTP) and National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). The Outbreak response team is working around the clock to contain the spread.
For enquiries contact:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
For interviews contact:
Patrick Moonasar
Cell: 082 578 3107
Issued by: Department of Health
18 March 2010
