Senegalese health authorities are racing to contain an outbreak of Rift Valley fever in the north of the country after confirming 20 cases, including eight deaths, in the Saint-Louis region.
The Minister of Health, Dr Ibrahima Sy, described the situation as “critical” during a visit to the city on Sunday.
Emergency measures have been rolled out, including hospitalisation for severe cases, disinfection of affected homes, and the distribution of mosquito nets treated with insecticide in partnership with the National Malaria Control Programme.
Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease that also affects livestock, poses both public health and economic risks.
The Saint-Louis River Valley is one of Senegal’s main livestock hubs, and authorities warn that the spread of the disease could threaten regional markets, exports, and food security.
Local health services are leading the response, with teams spraying compounds and carrying out dusting operations in vulnerable neighbourhoods. Officials say coordination with livestock, environmental, and social action services is crucial to making the response effective.
Dr Sy emphasised that state measures alone will not be enough, urging citizens to become directly involved. “Only citizen mobilization will slow the spread of the virus,” he said, highlighting the key role of community health workers and local associations.
Many of these groups, already active in malaria prevention, have shifted their awareness campaigns to address Rift Valley fever.
The current outbreak is more severe than previous episodes, including one in 2013, and comes as Senegal strengthens its epidemic preparedness under the International Health Regulations framework.
Special emergency funds had already been created to improve the country’s response to public health threats.
Epidemiological surveillance has now been extended nationwide to detect new cases early and prevent the virus from spreading beyond Saint-Louis. Officials say that protecting both human lives and livestock will be central to limiting the impact of the crisis.
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