Rift Valley Fever Cited in 300 Deaths

An outbreak of Rift Valley fever has been blamed for the deaths of more than 300 people in the past month, medical experts said. The disease, named after a valley in Kenya, is spread by mosquitoes, sand flies and the slaughter of infected animals, said Dr. Douglas Klaucke of the World Health Organization. Victims suffer fevers, severe headaches and vision problems. It is not usually fatal. Klaucke said that the latest deaths in northeastern Kenya may not have been solely caused by Rift Valley fever, and that malaria and severe diarrhea may have contributed.