JEDDAH, 21 August 2003 — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, has instructed the authorities to take precautionary measures to prevent a renewed outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in the southern Jizan region, which has already been hit by torrential floods.

Speaking to reporters after conducting an inspection tour of Jizan, Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie said the Kingdom had contacted the World Health Organization following reports of an RVF outbreak in Egypt.

The Saudi Agriculture Ministry is considering a ban on sheep imports from Egypt. The decision would be taken after receiving more information from the Saudi Embassy in Cairo on the RVF outbreak, he said. The Egyptian Health Ministry, however, announced that no new RVF cases have been reported over the past three days after the disease had killed 13 people and affected 35 others. The Egyptian ministry claimed it had successfully contained the disease by taking speedy measures.

The crown prince’s order to take precautionary measures comes after a major RVF outbreak two years ago killed more than 125 people in Jizan. The killer virus affected more than 900 people in the region.

Saudi authorities fear that the recent heavy rainfalls in Jizan could trigger a new outbreak of infectious diseases including RVF as the rains have created a large number of swamps, possible breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Health Minister Al-Manie announced plans to dispatch a team of doctors and specialists as well as adequate amounts of medication to Jizan. Special vehicles and equipment for spraying insecticides will also be sent to the region.

“We have plans to establish a full-fledged hospital in the region to treat hereditary diseases,” he said.

The RVF virus is usually contracted from mosquitoes, or by contact with the blood, bodily fluids or organs of infected animals. In humans the incubation period is two to six days. The virus replicates swiftly, in some cases producing no symptoms and in others causing a mild illness associated with fever and liver abnormalities.

The disease was first identified in Kenya’s Rift Valley in 1930.