CERF allocates US$ 1.2 million to combat Rift Valley Fever in Tanzania

26 April 2007: Following a regional trend, Rift Valley Fever in Tanzania has been reported in both animals and humans in 13 regions across the country. Many hundreds of human cases, including 60 deaths, have been reported to date. The onset of the rainy season is likely to increase the spread of the disease and is considered an aggravating factor to the threat of human lives, especially that these regions are already plagued with serious health issues and have recently experienced measles and cholera outbreaks. 

CERF funding has been made available to strengthen the core elements of humanitarian response and to ensure the continuation of time critical, life-saving activities for both human and animals in Tanzania.

Rift Valley Fever has already killed thousands of cows and sheep across East Africa [Photo: IRIN/Pflanz]

UNICEF, FAO, and WHO will provide emergency livestock and human health response to control the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Tanzania. UN agencies and their implementing operational partners will provide support to vulnerable groups and households of the 10 million people at risk, particularly targeting vulnerable rural households and pastoralists to prevent the spread of the disease to non affected areas in order to save human lives and prevent human suffering. Support includes disease supervision activities (including the monitoring of a RVF surveillance network and risk mapping) and training activities related to preventing livestock infection.

What is Rift Valley Fever?
Rift Valley Fever is a viral zoonosis (an animal disease affecting humans). RVF outbreaks cause severe disease and deaths in both animals and humans and are responsible for economic losses to farmers due to death and abortion of RVF-infected livestock.

[Last Update: 2 May 2007]

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