24 November 2019 – The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) reported five new cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) during epidemiological week 47 (17 – 23 November) of 2019. The cumulative number of reported cases since week 31 (28 July – 5 August) this year is 339 including 11 associated deaths with a case fatality rate of 3.2%. The attack rate was 0.78 per 10 000 population. Among all reported cases 57% were male and 83.6% were older than 15 years. The most affected age group were 45 years and above who accounted for 28.6% 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 11 localities are reporting RVF cases in the states of Red Sea, River Nile, Khartoum, White Nile, Kassla and Algdaref. The highest reporting state is River Nile (206 cases) followed by Red Sea (128 cases).

All of the cases complained from fever. Other frequent symptoms included headaches followed by joint pain (78.2 % and 47.5 % respectively). Only 4.2% had bleeding.

Blood samples were collected from 73 patients with 43 coming out positive and six negative as reported by the National Public Health Laboratory of Sudan. Results for 24 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 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.