Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

Context: A recent study has revealed that the geographical range of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) disease clusters is expanding across eastern Africa. The increasing frequency of small RVF clusters in previously unaffected areas is associated with a combination of higher temperature and rainfall.

About:

• Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the Rift Valley fever virus, which is found in most of sub-Saharan Africa, especially eastern and southern Africa.
• It was first identified in 1931 in the Rift Valley in Kenya.
• It is transmitted by mosquitoes, most commonly the Aedes and Culex mosquitoes.
• It is primarily a disease of ruminants such as sheep, goats and cattle but human infections occur following close contact with infected animal tissue and body fluids.
• Symptoms: People with RVF often have either no symptoms or a mild illness that includes fever, weakness, back pain, and dizziness.
• It produces high mortality rates in newborn ruminants, especially sheep and goats, and abortion in pregnant animals.
• RVF is listed in the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code and must be reported to the WOAH.