Rift Valley Fever in South Africa

The South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases has reported an outbreak of Rift Valley fever in South Africa. As of August 27, 2010, 232 human cases, including 26 deaths, have been confirmed. Most of the cases have been reported in the Free State and Northern Cape provinces. Cases have also been reported in the North West, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape Provinces. Although outbreak activity has decreased, Rift Valley fever is still a concern. Cases could re-emerge in the coming months due to seasonal changes such as the rainy season. The rainy season typically occurs November- March.

Rift Valley fever, a disease caused by a virus, is spread mainly through contact with infected farm animals and mosquitoes. Most of the cases confirmed in South Africa have been among people who have direct contact with infected animals, such as farm workers, animal health workers, and meat inspectors.

Recommendations for Travelers

The risk for Rift Valley fever in South Africa is low for most travelers. However, if you are traveling to farm areas or will be sleeping outdoors in the affected areas, you are at a greater risk for Rift Valley fever. You can follow these recommendations to help stay healthy and reduce your chances of becoming infected:

Avoid farms in the affected areas.
- If you cannot avoid visiting farms, avoid going near areas where animals are kept, such as barns and pens, and avoid direct contact with animals.

Prevent mosquito bites.
- Use insect repellent on exposed skin.
  - Look for a repellent that contains one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin (KBR 3023), Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus/PMD, or IR3535. Always follow the instructions on the label when you use the repellent.
  - In general, repellents protect longer against mosquito bites when they have a higher concentration (%) of any of these active ingredients. However, concentrations above 50% do not offer a distinct increase in protection time. Products with less than 10% of an active ingredient may offer only limited protection, often only 1-2 hours.
  - The American Academy of Pediatrics approves the use of repellents with up to 30% DEET on children over 2 months of age.
  - Protect babies less than 2 months old by using a carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit. For more information about the use of repellent on infants and children, please see the "Insect and Other Arthropod Protection" section in Traveling Safely with Infants and Children and the "Children" section of CDC's Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use .
  - For more information on the use of insect repellents, see the information on the Mosquito and Tick Protection webpage.
- Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors.
- If you are sleeping outdoors or in a room with no window screens, use an insecticide-treated bednet.

Symptoms and Treatment

People who are sick with Rift Valley Fever usually either have no symptoms or have mild symptoms including fever, weakness, back pain, and dizziness. Usually, people feel better within 2 days to 1 week after the illness begins. However, sometimes the illness becomes more serious. If needed, medical care for Rift Valley Fever is usually focused on treating the symptoms of the disease.

If you have any of the symptoms above and have visited farming areas in the affected provinces of South Africa, see a doctor right away and tell him or her about where you traveled.

More Information

For additional information about Rift Valley Fever and the outbreak in South Africa, see the following links:

Rift Valley Fever (CDC Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases)
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (from CDC Health Information for International Travel)
Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (subsite, from Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases)
South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases

For additional health information about travel to South Africa, visit the South Africa destination page on CDC's Travelers' Health website.