Two UN agencies helped Malagasy authorities to combat outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF)in the country which has so far claimed 20 lives, said a news release posted on the UN website.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO) have developed an emergency response plan for Madagascar, which includes providing disease management for affected livestock and human beings at risk, reinforcing livestock disease surveillance, and improving reporting systems and laboratory diagnostics.
They have received a total of 376,000 U.S. dollars from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the emergency plan.
Since January this year, RVF has been reported in both animals and humans in more than 20 out of the 119 districts of Madagascar, primarily in the north, south and central highlands.
By the end of June, Madagascar's Ministry of Health had reported a total of 520 human-suspected cases related to RVF.
Transmitted by mosquitoes, RVF is a dangerous disease that affects both livestock including sheep, goats, cattle, camels and humans.
Humans become infected through mosquito bites or direct contact with infected material and liquids such as animal blood during slaughtering, while the uncooked milk of infected animals can also pose a risk. No cases of human-to-human transmission have ever been reported.
Source:Xinhua
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