Profile of Patients Infected with Rift Valley Fever Hospitalized at the Regional Hospital Center of Saint-Louis (Senegal) during the 2025 Epidemic
Alassane Dièye *
Health Sciences Training and Research Unit, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal and Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Ndiambé Sarr
Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Moustapha Diedhiou
Health Sciences Training and Research Unit, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal and Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Demba Makalou
Health Sciences Training and Research Unit, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal and Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Ablaye Sarr
Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Papa Latyr Junior Diouf
Saint-Louis Health District, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Fatou Binetou Seck
Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Abdoulaye Seye
Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
El Hadji Mba Bambo Diakhaby
Health Sciences Training and Research Unit, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal and Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Ibou Gueye
Saint-Louis Health District, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Oumou Kaltoum Boh
Saint-Louis Health District, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Abiboulah Sall
Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Seynabou Ndiaye
Saint-Louis Regional Health Directorate, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Seynabou Lô
Health Sciences Training and Research Unit, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal and Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Ndéye Méry Dia-Badiane
Health Sciences Training and Research Unit, Gaston Berger University, Saint-Louis, Senegal and Department of Medicine, Regional Hospital Center, Saint-Louis, Senegal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute viral zoonosis responsible for several epidemics in Senegal. The 2025 epidemic was associated with substantial mortality.
Aim: The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and outcome-related aspects of patients infected with RVF hospitalized at the Regional Hospital Center (RHC) of Saint-Louis (Senegal).
Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study in RVF-infected patients hospitalized at the RHC of Saint-Louis from 13 September to 30 October 2025.
Results: Twenty patients were hospitalized for RVF. The median age was 26.5 years [0.02–90 years]. Eleven patients (55%) were men, giving a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.2. The most common occupations were housewives (30%), followed by livestock farmers (20%). The median time from symptom onset to hospitalisation was 6 days [1–13 days]. Fifteen patients (75%) had a severe form of the disease, with haemorrhagic manifestations in 73.3% and neurological manifestations in 60% of severe cases. RT-PCR was positive in all patients (100%). Thrombocytopenia was observed in half of the cases (50%). Blood transfusions were administered in half of the cases (50%). Six deaths were recorded (30%). The factors associated with death were the presence of comorbidities (p=0.03), a serum creatinine level ≥14mg/l (p=0.01), a CRP level ≥12mg/l (p=0.02), a white blood cell count ≥ 9000/ul (p=0.02), a neutrophil count ≥6000/ul (p=0.02), a platelet count <50000/ul (p=0.05), and a serum potassium level ≥4 meq/l (p=0.05).
Conclusion: In this hospitalized cohort, RVF predominantly affected young male patients and was associated with a high case fatality proportion and frequent haemorrhagic and neurological manifestations.
Keywords: Rift Valley fever, hospitalized patients, epidemic, Saint-Louis, Senegal