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Rift Valley fever mainly affects farm animals. But
the virus can also infect humans, and South Africa
has been experiencing an outbreak. The National
Institute for Communicable Diseases reported two
hundred twenty-five confirmed human cases as of July
second. Twenty-five of the people died. South Africa
launched an expanded program to watch for public
health threats during the World Cup. Health
officials said that there were no cases of Rift
Valley fever in tourists. The majority of farms
affected by the outbreak are outside areas generally
visited by travelers. Most of the cases have been
found in farm workers in two provinces: Free State
and Northern Cape. Most human infections with Rift
Valley fever are caused by direct or indirect
contact with diseased animals. Infected mosquitoes
can also pass the disease to humans. So can drinking
unpasteurized or uncooked milk from infected
animals. Most human cases of the disease are minor.
Some patients do not get sick at all. Others may get
flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle and joint
pain and headaches. Patients normally recover within
seven days. But patients with more severe forms can
go blind. Some develop encephalitis, a brain disease
that can lead to headaches, coma or seizures. And
some patients bleed to death. The World Health
Organization says Rift Valley fever was first
discovered in Kenya in nineteen thirty-one. In the
year two thousand, it was identified in Saudi Arabia
and Yemen. These were the first reported cases of
Rift Valley fever outside of Africa. Current
vaccines to protect against Rift Valley fever are
limited to use in animals. But researchers are
working to develop the first human vaccine. In a new
study, scientists in the United States tested
vaccines made with two kinds of inactivated virus.
They said tests in mice showed that their new
vaccines are safer than live-virus vaccines and
appear to work just as well. Using live virus in
vaccines can increase the risks. The researchers are
at the University of Pittsburgh and the University
of North Carolina. Their study appeared in the
journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, published
by the Public Library of Science. And that's the VOA
Special English Development Report. You can read and
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is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
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