What should you know about Rift Valley fever virus?

Rift Valley fever is a virus that mainly circulates between mosquitoes and animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and camels. People may be exposed through mosquito bites or contact with blood, organs or other fluids from an infected animal. Fever, headache, muscle or joint pain, weakness, nausea and sensitivity to light can occur. Many infections are mild, but eye problems, bleeding or signs affecting the brain can develop and require urgent care. The illness does not spread in the same straightforward way as a common cold.

If you have fever after travel, mosquito exposure, animal handling or assisting with animal birthing, contact a clinician and describe the timing and setting. Rest, drink fluids if you can, and follow local advice about fever medicines. Avoid handling animal tissues and use mosquito protection, including long clothing, insect repellent and screened or air-conditioned rooms. A clinician may assess your symptoms, exposure history and need for testing or monitoring.

Seek urgent medical help for confusion, a severe headache with neck stiffness, difficulty seeing, unusual bleeding, severe weakness, breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting or inability to keep fluids down. Pregnant people, young children, older adults and anyone with a condition that weakens immunity should seek advice early after a relevant exposure or new fever.

Ask whether your travel or animal exposure changes the need for testing, which fever medicines are suitable, how to protect household members from mosquitoes, and which symptoms should prompt immediate reassessment.