Epidemiologic Investigations into Outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever in Humans, South Africa, 2008-2011

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging zoonosis posing a public health threat to humans in Africa. During sporadic RVF outbreaks in 2008-2009 and widespread epidemics in 2010-2011, 302 laboratory-confirmed human infections, including 25 deaths (case-fatality rate, 8%) were identified. Incidence peak...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2013-12, Vol.19 (12), p.1918-1925
Main Authors: Archer, Brett N, Thomas, Juno, Weyer, Jacqueline, Cengimbo, Ayanda, Landoh, Dadja E, Jacobs, Charlene, Ntuli, Sindile, Modise, Motshabi, Mathonsi, Moshe, Mashishi, Morton S, Leman, Patricia A, le Roux, Chantel, Jansen van Vuren, Petrus, Kemp, Alan, Paweska, Janusz T, Blumberg, Lucille
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
disease outbreak
epidemiology
Investigations
Livestock
Public health
Rift Valley fever
Rift Valley fever virus
South Africa
Zoonoses
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Summary:Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging zoonosis posing a public health threat to humans in Africa. During sporadic RVF outbreaks in 2008-2009 and widespread epidemics in 2010-2011, 302 laboratory-confirmed human infections, including 25 deaths (case-fatality rate, 8%) were identified. Incidence peaked in late summer to early autumn each year, which coincided with incidence rate patterns in livestock. Most case-patients were adults (median age 43 years), men (262; 87%), who worked in farming, animal health or meat-related industries (83%). Most case-patients reported direct contact with animal tissues, blood, or other body fluids before onset of illness (89%); mosquitoes likely played a limited role in transmission of disease to humans. Close partnership with animal health and agriculture sectors allowed early recognition of human cases and appropriate preventive health messaging.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid1912.121527