afrol News, 15 November - An outbreak of the Rift Valley Fever has claimed the lives of 96 of the infected 329 reported cases in Sudan.

Officials of both Sudanese health ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the registration of suspected cases in White Nile, Sannar and Jazeera states. Few cases have also been registered in the capital Khartoum.

The fever’s current death rate stands at 29%, with Jazeera state accounting for half of all the cases.

The deadly fever is transmitted through contact with contaminated animal blood or bites from infected mosquitoes. The fever can lead to meningoencephalitis and internal haemorrhaging capable of killing half of its suspects. Its incubation period ranges between two and six days.

As many Sudanese depend on livestock for survival, an outbreak among cattle can be catastrophic. Sudanese Khartoum authorities allayed fears of the presence of the disease among cattle.

But an animal health expert has been sent by the Food Agricultural Organisation to help avert the spread of the outbreak among livestock.

A joint public information and mobilisation campaign warning Sudanese to be wary of the disease's risks and measures to contain its spread was launched by the Sudanese government and WHO.

An outbreak of the disease claimed more than 150 lives in Kenya last January.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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