Rickettsia Cases Registered in Central Region; Community Awareness Deemed First Line of Defence

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has called on citizens to adhere to health guidelines and take necessary precautions, maintaining that prevention and community awareness constitute the first line of defence against Rickettsia. This appeal follows the Centre’s announcement that a number of cases of the disease have been registered in the country’s Central Region.
The NCDC’s declaration was based on data received from its Rapid Response and Surveillance Network. The Centre clarifies that Rickettsia is an illness transmitted via insect vectors such as ticks, fleas, and lice.
While Rickettsia typically appears seasonally in environments conducive to its spread—particularly forested areas or locations associated with domestic and wild animal husbandry—the Centre noted that the disease may surface in various areas across Libya where suitable environmental conditions for its vectors exist.
To monitor the epidemiological situation and curb the disease’s spread, the Centre stressed that it has activated an “Active Surveillance” mechanism in the Central Region, in full coordination with relevant health authorities. The NCDC asserts that these measures fall within the framework of strengthening preventive steps and safeguarding public safety.