ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The authors describe clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of severe presentations of Rift valley fever (RVF) during the 2008 epidemic in Madagascar. METHODOLOGY: The diagnosis was confirmed by RVF virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or detection of specifics antibodies by Elisa. RESULTS: Sixteen cases of severe RVF were recorded. The sex-ratio was 7/1 and median age was 32 years (20/59 years). The risk factors of infection were: contact with infected animals or their meat (n=8), and travelling to a risk area (n=2). Hemorrhagic, neurological, and ocular manifestations were observed respectively in 87.5%, 43.8% and 6.3% of cases. All patients who died (n=4) presented with a hemorrhagic form of the disease. CONCLUSION: The hemorrhagic form was the most frequent presentation of RVF and was responsible for a high level of mortality. Epidemiologic surveillance must be implemented.
