Rift Valley Fever Overview
What is Rift Valley fever?
A person with Rift Valley fever has a viral infection that is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. Rarely, the virus causes hemorrhage, or inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis. Rift Valley fever occurs in Africa, where it got its name.
What are the symptoms of Rift Valley fever?
The most common symptoms of Rift Valley fever include a fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and blurry vision. Symptoms of severe Rift Valley fever include a high fever, neck pain and stiffness, blood in the stool, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, coughing up blood, and a rash that looks like broken blood vessels under the skin.
How does the doctor treat Rift Valley fever?
Treatment for Rift Valley fever may include rest, plenty of liquids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and fever. Treatment for severe Rift Valley fever may include intravenous fluids, antiviral medication, and transfusions of blood or fresh frozen plasma.
Continue to Rift Valley Fever Risk Factors
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rift Valley Fever--East Africa, 1997-1998. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1998 Apr 10;47(13):261-4. 
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- Nabeth P, Kane Y, Abdalahi MO, Diallo M, Ndiaye K, Ba K, Schneegans F, Sall AA, Mathiot C. Rift Valley fever outbreak, Mauritania, 1998: seroepidemiologic, virologic, entomologic, and zoologic investigations. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001 Nov-Dec;7(6):1052-4.