Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Overview

How can I get sick? 

• Being bit by an infected* mosquito.  

• Direct contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected* animals. 

Symptoms in Humans: 

• Fever (when your body gets a little hotter than normal) 

• Tiredness 
• Dizziness (feeling like you are spinning) 
• Back pain 
• Ocular disease (disease of the eye) 

Symptoms in Animals: 

• Fever (when your body gets a little hotter than normal) 

• Tiredness 

***High rates of serious illness and death among young animals   

What can I do to stay healthy? 

Protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites  

• Use insect repellents while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.   

• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with insect repellent*.
• Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitos outside.
• Remove anything that will bring mosquitoes into your home. For example, emptying standing water from pots, buckets, barrels, and other containers.

What to do when traveling overseas  

• Use insect repellents* while hiking, camping, hunting, or being outside. Ask an adult to help you with insect repellent*.   
• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and long socks when outside.    
• Treat your clothes, gear (boots, tents, backpacks or camping gear), or any outdoor equipment with insect repellent*.   
• Choose a hotel or place to stay that has air conditioning or windows and doors with screens to keep mosquitos outside.   
• Use mosquito nets when sleeping outside or if you are staying in a room with no screens on windows or doors.   

*Definitions:

• Domesticated animals:  Animals that have been raised to live alongside humans. 
• Infected: When germs get inside of a body, animal, or an organism.  
• Insect repellent: Product applied to skin, clothing or surfaces to keep insects away.