Mauritanian authorities reported Sunday the first death from Rift Valley Fever since the last outbreak in 2022, officials said. The Health Ministry confirmed the victim, a citizen arriving from a neighbouring country, showed hemorrhagic fever symptoms and later died.
Ten people who had contact with the deceased are now quarantined, though none have yet developed symptoms of the virus. Rift Valley Fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted through mosquitoes or contact with infected blood and bodily fluids.
First detected in Mauritania in 1998, the disease has resurfaced periodically, causing deaths and straining local health systems over decades. The 2022 outbreak claimed 23 lives, highlighting the ongoing threat this virus poses across the country and the wider region.
The virus is present in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans, making it a concern for global health authorities. Currently, no vaccines exist for humans or animals, leaving preventive measures and early detection as the only defenses against the disease.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging vigilance and public awareness to prevent a potential resurgence of the virus. Public health experts warn that regional travel and animal transmission could accelerate the spread if containment measures are not strictly enforced.
