May

Epidemic Hazard – Middle-East – Saudi Arabia

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EDIS Number: EH-20100507-25988-SAU
Date / time: 07/05/2010 19:20:15 [UTC]
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Area: Middle-East
Country: Saudi Arabia
State/County: Province of Najran
City: Najran
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:

A 40 year old Saudi man, a fire fighter by profession and resident in Najran, was diagnosed with Rift Valley fever on 28 Apr 2010. He first reported signs of illness on 23 Apr 2010. The same day he presented at a Ministry of Health facility in Najran, where he was hospitalised and suspected to be a case of viral haemorrhagic fever. Signs observed included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and epistaxis. The patient's blood was sent to the Central Laboratory (Riyadh) and tested for various viral haemorrhagic fevers (Rift Valley fever, Alkhurma haemorrhagic fever, and dengue fever). All were negative except for Rift Valley fever, which was detected using real time RT-PCR. Tests for Rift Valley fever virus IgM and IgG were negative. At the present time, the exact source and locale of Rift Valley fever virus infection is not clear and is still being investigated. The patient travelled extensively in the south western areas of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia known to be endemic for Rift Valley fever (Tihama, Aseer, and Gizan) some 45 days before the onset of his present illness. However, this extended time frame does not seem compatible with the known incubation period of Rift Valley fever virus (around 2 to 6 days). In addition, the lack of antibodies (IgM or IgG) adds further doubt to the patient being infected during that visit. The patient is also known to have visited a livestock farm where he purchased an animal. It was then slaughtered and cooked for him at a commercial outlet. He reported not taking part in the slaughtering or cutting up process. The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and local municipalities of Gizan, Najran, and Aseer, is conducting extensive epidemiological and entomological investigations and results are pending. Active surveillance for human and animal disease is ongoing. Vaccination of animals with the live attenuated Rift Valley fever virus vaccine is continuing in the said locales.