Attachments
This Weekly Bulletin focuses on public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African region. This week’s articles cover:
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Rift Valley Fever in Kenya
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Measles in Mauritania
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Lassa Fever in Nigeria
For each of these events, a brief description, followed by public health measures implemented and an interpretation of the situation is provided.
A table is provided at the end of the bulletin with information on all new and ongoing public health events currently being monitored in the region, as well as recent events that have been controlled and closed.
Major issues and challenges include:
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Kenyan health authorities issued an alert on Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak on 24 January 2024 following the confirmation of a human case of RVF in Marsabit County. Despite only one confirmed human case, various factors could contribute to the worsening of the outbreak. Recent El Nino rainfalls and flooding may have increased mosquito vectors with the capacity to transmit RVF in endemic areas. The displacement of humans and animals due to late 2023’s flooding may lead to aggregation in potential RVF virus amplification areas. Furthermore, underreporting and misdiagnosis of cases could result in underestimating the true burden of the outbreak in Kenya.
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Mauritania’s response to the ongoing measles outbreak is hindered by several obstacles. Firstly, the planned measles vaccination campaign from 2023 is still pending, and national administrative vaccination coverage is lacking. The situation is further complicated by multiple border crossing points, hindering disease control efforts. Timely data reporting from crucial healthcare facilities remains a persistent challenge. Limited awareness and outreach efforts on vaccination are observed, especially in remote areas and among special populations. Additionally, the suboptimal functionality of isolation units for suspected cases in health centers aggravates the complexities of the response.