Senegal intensifies measures as rift valley fever outbreak claims seven lives

Senegal’s Minister of Health, Ibrahima Sy, announced on Sunday, 29 September 2025, that a recent outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in the northern Saint-Louis region has resulted in seven deaths.

Speaking at an epidemic control meeting, Sy said health authorities are working closely with the livestock department to strengthen preventive and control strategies to contain the virus. The Saint-Louis region confirmed its first RVF cases on Thursday, prompting a swift response to mitigate further transmission among both humans and animals.

Boli Diop, head of epidemiological surveillance at the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, explained that RVF is a zoonotic disease transmitted mainly among animals but can also infect humans, particularly through contact with infected blood or organs. High-risk groups include herders, farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians. While most human cases present mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pain, delayed treatment can lead to severe haemorrhagic complications.

With no specific antiviral treatment or human vaccine currently available, authorities are prioritising early detection, public awareness, and coordinated intervention to prevent the outbreak from spreading further, echoing past episodes that have affected Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal.