Hospitals in Mauritania are under growing strain as an outbreak of an unidentified fever spreads through the country’s two largest cities, Nouakchott and Nouadhibou, raising alarm among residents and health professionals.

Regional hospitals in both cities are reporting an unusual surge of patients with high fever, joint pain, and severe fatigue. Emergency wards have been overwhelmed, with some patients waiting hours for a hospital bed.

Medical staff say the pattern of symptoms and timing of the outbreak point to a possible resurgence of Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease that has recently re-emerged in several parts of the region. According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 people in Mauritania and 20 in neighboring Senegal have died from confirmed Rift Valley fever since late September, with dozens of other cases under observation.

A doctor in Nouadhibou noted that the current spike coincides with the seasonal rains and livestock movement—conditions often linked to Rift Valley virus transmission. Health experts have warned that urban areas like Nouakchott may now face heightened risks due to poor drainage and limited mosquito control.

Patients interviewed in both cities described long waits and overcrowded wards, where some relatives received only minimal treatment due to shortages of staff and medical supplies.

Residents have voiced frustration over the government’s delayed communication and the lack of clear public guidance. Officials have yet to confirm the illness’s cause but say laboratory testing is underway to determine whether the fever is connected to the Rift Valley outbreak or another viral infection.

With cases still climbing, health authorities are being urged to intensify surveillance, distribute mosquito protection supplies, and coordinate with regional agencies to contain the spread before it worsens.