Epidemiological Situation

As of February 21, 2019, 63 confirmed cases of RVF had been reported to the ARS OI’s Health Surveillance and Emergency Response Platform (CVAGS) by the CHM laboratory. The first 5 cases were identified and confirmed by the CHM laboratory in November and December 2018 (S47, S50, and S52), with double confirmation by the Associated National Reference Center for Arboviruses in Réunion and the CIBU. Since the beginning of 2019, 58 new cases have been confirmed by the CHM laboratory, including 18 in week 6 and 17 in week 7. Since the start of the outbreak, 36 cases have been investigated by the Vector Control Service (LAV) and the CVAGS of the ARS OI:

• 26 cases (72%) had direct or indirect contact with animals: - 21 cases in direct contact with animals, including 18 livestock farmers (50%); - 5 cases living near livestock farms.

• 5 cases reported having no contact with animals and did not live near livestock farms;

• 15 cases reported occasionally consuming raw milk or curd;

• 21 cases (58%) reside in municipalities in the central-western part of the island: Chiconi (10 cases), Tsingoni (6 cases), Ouangani (4 cases), and Sada (1 case).