Epidemiologic investigations into outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever in humans, South Africa, 2008–2011
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Date
Authors
Archer, Brett N.
Thomas, Juno
Weyer, Jacqueline
Cengimbo, Ayanda
Landoh, Dadja E.
Jacobs, Charlene
Ntuli, Sindile
Modise, Motshabi
Mathonsi, Moshe
Mashishi, Morton S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Rift Valley fever (RVF), Health threat, Humans, RVF outbreaks in 2008–2009, Preventive health messaging
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Archer, BN, Thomas, J, Weyer, J, Cengimbo, A, Landoh, DE, Jacobs, C, Ntuli, S, Modise, M, Mathonsi, M, Mashishi, MS, Leman, PA, Le Roux, C, Jansen van Vuren, P, Kemp, A, Paweska, JT & Blumberg, L2013, 'Epidemiologic investigations into outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever in humans, South Africa, 2008–2011', Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 19, no. 12, pp. 1918-1925.