Rift Valley fever in Uganda

12 Jul 2018

ProMED reported that the Uganda Ministry of Health notified WHO of an outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Isingiro and Kasese districts, all located in the western region of the country. There is a report of another confirmed RVF case in Ibanda District, on which more information is being sought and 2 other suspected cases are reportedly being investigated in Mbarara (1) and Kasese (1) districts.

Advice for Travellers

There is no commercially available human vaccine against this infection at present.

• Travellers should be aware of the risk from livestock such as cattle, goats and sheep and avoid contact with ruminant animals, particularly if slaughter, butchering and birthing is taking place.
• Travellers should avoid mosquito bites (particularly in rural and farming areas) by covering skin with clothing, using insect repellent on exposed skin and sleeping under a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide. 
• Travellers should always refrain from consuming unpasteurised or uncooked milk and not partake of raw or undercooked meat that has not been properly verified. 

For further information see Rift Valley Fever.