A short, sharp fever due to a virus conveyed by the bite of a common sandfly Phlebotomus papatasii. The vector bites at night and has a limited flight range. Symptoms are fever, headache, weakness, nausea and pain in the limbs and back are characteristic. It is not known to cause death.
Sandfly fever occurs in parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. It is a disease of sub-tropical and tropical areas with long periods of hot, dry weather.