Madagascar: Rift Valley Fever Outbreak - Jul 2008
Disaster description
By 29 Jun 2008 the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Madagascar reported a total of 520 human-suspected cases related to Rift Valley Fever (livestock disease that can be transmitted to humans), including 20 deaths. In an effort to contain the outbreak, national authorities established an inter-ministerial committee co-chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock and the Ministry of Health, and supported by international experts from WHO, FAO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Center for Disease Control Atlanta (CDC), USAID and the Institut Pasteur of Madagascar. (OCHA, 11 Jul 2008)
Besides human health, food security and livestock-related industries were also at risk, and RVF was expected to have serious negative long-term economic impact. (IRIN, 15 Jul 2008)