Rift Valley fever in West Africa

Original publication date: October 23, 2025

Updated: November 17, 2025

Key points

There is an outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in northern Senegal and eastern Mauritania.
It can infect both people and animals, including livestock such as sheep, cattle, and goats.
People usually become infected through contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals.
People can also be infected through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
There has never been a case reported of RVF virus spreading from person to person.
Travellers can reduce their risk by avoiding contact with livestock, handling, eating, and drinking animal products safely and preventing mosquito bites.
Most people who get RVF recover without medical treatment, but in some cases, the disease can cause severe illness or death.

An outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been reported in northern Senegal and in eastern Mauritania.
In Senegal, RVF cases have been reported in 22 health districts, mostly in Saint-Louis, Louga, and Matam regions near the northern border with Mauritania along the Senegal River.
In Mauritania, RVF cases have been reported in 13 regions, including Assaba (bordering Mali), and Brakna and Trarza (bordering Senegal along the Senegal River).
RVF occurs regularly in both countries, but this outbreak is larger and more severe than usual.
RVF outbreaks are more likely to occur after heavy rainfall and flooding.
Recent flooding in the Senegal River delta has created conditions that allow mosquitoes, which spread the virus, to breed more easily.
As the rainy season continues, additional human cases of RVF may occur.

Talk to a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic, preferably about 6 weeks before your departure date, to get personalized health advice. Even if your travel date is coming up soon, it's still worthwhile to make an appointment.
Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.

Avoid contact with livestock.
Handle, eat, and drink animal products safely. All animal products, including meat, milk, and blood, should be thoroughly cooked before eating or drinking them.
Prevent mosquito bites at all times:
- use an approved bug spray (insect repellent) on exposed skin
- wear light-coloured, loose clothing made of tightly woven materials like nylon or polyester
- wear socks and closed-toe shoes
- sleep under mosquito netting if you’re outdoors or staying in places that aren’t fully enclosed

Contact your health care provider if you develop symptoms of RVF. Tell them where you’ve been travelling.

Some people get Rift Valley fever (RVF) after being bitten by infected mosquitoes, but most infections happen through contact with the blood or organs of infected animals.
People can also get RVF by drinking unpasteurized or uncooked milk from infected animals.
Those at higher risk include herders, farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians.
No cases of person-to-person transmission of RVF have been documented.

Symptoms usually begin 2 to 6 days after exposure to the virus.
Many people with RVF have no symptoms or only mild illness. Symptoms can include:
- fever
- muscle and joint pain
- headache
Most people recover within 2 to 7 days, without specific treatment.
In some cases, RVF can cause severe illness, such as:
- eye disease that may cause blurred or reduced vision, or sores on the eyes
- inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
- bleeding under the skin, inside the body or from the mouth, eyes or ears (hemorrhagic fever)
Overall, about 1% of people infected with RVF die from the disease.
While a vaccine exists for animals, there is currently no commercially available RVF vaccine for humans.

Other Resources