Rift Valley fever death toll rises to 11 in Senegal

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

Eleven people have died from Rift Valley fever in Senegal, out of 78 confirmed cases since the disease was first reported on Sept. 21 in the northern Saint-Louis region, the Health and Public Hygiene Ministry said Saturday.

Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant, strictly follow preventive measures and cooperate with health workers and volunteers to contain the outbreak.

The health minister, along with the minister of agriculture and livestock, traveled to Saint-Louis after attending a regional epidemic management meeting in Louga, said the ministry.

Rift Valley fever spreads to humans through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected animals or through mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain and headaches, and the disease can be fatal in severe cases.