Rift Valley Fever in Mayotte
04 Feb 2019
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
reports that public health authorities have identified 19 cases of Rift Valley fever on the French island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean from 11 December 2018 to 28 January 2019. Most cases are in the western part of the island.
Advice to Travellers
Rift Valley fever is very rare in 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.