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A recent study conducted in Isiolo County, Kenya by researchers from the Zoonotic Disease Unit, Kenya (Dr. Mathew Muturi), University of Embu (Dr. Daniel Nthiwa), International Livestock Research Institute, ILRI (Dr. Bernard Bett) and other partners determined that a significant number of the tested livestock and humans were exposed to Rift valley fever virus (RVFV). Rift valley fever (RVF), an infectious disease caused by RVFV which belongs to the genus Phlebovirus, is an important disease that affects both livestock and humans.
The RVF outbreaks are particularly associated with El Niño which result in widespread flooding in low-lying areas. Flooding and high ambient temperatures create the requisite conditions for increased mosquito populations, important agents that transmit RVF virus in humans and livestock. Most individuals infected with RVF virus show no syndromes or present with transient fever, headache, joint and muscle pains. However, less than 10% of these individuals could develop serious complications including excessive bleeding (haemorrhage) and swelling of the brain. The typical symptoms observed among sick animals include high abortions and death rates, and reduced milk production. Humans get infected with RVFV through bites from infected mosquitoes, direct contact with sick animals either during animal slaughter or through intake of raw animal products such as meat. Furthermore, participation in animal slaughter and age were positively associated with humans’ exposure to RVF virus, while among livestock, female animals were more exposed than males. In addition, adult animals also had a higher exposure than both suckling animals and weaners. Among the climatic factors assessed, rainfall and elevation were found to influence livestock and humans’ exposure to RVFV, respectively.
The findings from this study highlight the need to initiate prevention and control measures against RVFV in the sampled area to prevent its transmission between livestock and humans. An active surveillance system covering both livestock and humans should also be put in place to promptly identify cases and determine the key routes of transmission among humans. Given that persons without formal education were more exposed relative to those with formal education, there is also a need to create more public health awareness about this disease in the study area to reduce transmission and burden. Public health education will enhance the adoption of food safety and biosecurity measures against RVF in the study areas. Since RVFV causes fever in humans, the findings from this study also suggest that this disease should be considered as part of differential diagnosis when investigating other fever-causing disease agents in the study areas. This will reduce misdiagnosing of this disease which is common in endemic areas.
This study was implemented under the co-infection project: Coinfection with Rift Valley fever virus, Brucella spp. and Coxiella burnetii in humans and animals in Kenya: Disease burden and ecological factors, funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (contract number HDTRA 11910031).
This article is a summary of a published paper entitled ‘‘Ecological and subject‑level drivers of interepidemic Rift Valley fever virus exposure in humans and livestock in Northern Kenya’’ published in Scientific Reports Nature and available via the link: