Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Health experts are warning Gambian authorities and communities to step up surveillance and preventive measures as Senegal battles an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) that has already claimed 18 lives since September.
The latest confirmed cases are in Fatick, a Senegalese region that directly borders The Gambia’s North Bank Region, raising concerns about possible cross-border transmission.
Dr. Assane Ndiaye, Regional Health Director in Fatick, confirmed that a 40-year-old livestock herder from Dioffior tested positive for the virus this week, just days after the region’s first case was detected at the Ndiaye-Ndiaye health post in Fatick town.
An investigation team has since been deployed to trace contacts and strengthen epidemiological surveillance.
With both cases emerging in an area geographically connected to The Gambia, health experts warn that the risk of cross-border spread is significant, particularly in rural livestock-keeping communities.
Senegal’s Ministry of Health has so far confirmed 140 infections across the country. The disease, which primarily affects livestock such as cattle, goats, and sheep, can spill over to humans through mosquito bites or direct contact with infected animals, particularly during slaughtering or handling of tissues.
“Rift Valley Fever often begins with fever, headaches, and muscle pains but in some cases can lead to deadly hemorrhagic complications if treatment is delayed,” said Dr. Boli Diop, head of epidemiological surveillance in Senegal.
Given the porous nature of the border, Gambian authorities are being urged to act swiftly by reinforcing border health checks, raising community awareness, and sensitizing livestock owners on prevention measures. Farmers, herders, veterinarians, and abattoir workers are considered the most at risk.
Public health experts warn that without strong preventive steps, The Gambia could face a spillover of the outbreak, especially in rural areas where animal husbandry is common and movement across the Senegalese border is routine.
