Rift valley fever

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute, fever-causing viral disease that affects domestic animals (such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels) and humans. RVF is most commonly associated with mosquito-borne epidemics during years of unusually heavy rainfall. 

The disease is caused by the RVF virus, a member of the genus Phlebovirus in the family Bunyaviridae. The disease was first reported among livestock by veterinajy officers in Kenya in the early 19(X)s. 

RVF is generally found in regions of eastern and southern Africa where sheep and cattle are raised, but the virus also exists in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa and in Madagascar. In September 2(X)0, a RVF outbreak was reported in Saudi Arabia and subsequently Yemen. These cases represent the first Rift Valley fever cases identified outside Africa. 

Humans can get RVF as a result of bites from mosquitoes and possibly other bloodsucking insects that serve as vectors. Humans can also get the disease if they are exposed to either the blood or 

RVF virus can cause several different disease syndromes. People with RVF typically have cither no symptoms or a mild illness associated with fever and liver abnormalities. However, in some patients the illness can progress to hemorrhagic fever (which can lead to shock or hemorrhage), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain, which can lead to headaches, coma, or seizures), or ocular disease (diseases affecting the eye). Patients who become ill usually experience fever, generalized weakness, back pain, dizzine.ss, and extreme weight loss at the onset of the illness. Typically, patients recover within two days to one week after onset of illne.ss. 

After innoculation, virus replicates at exposure site, then migrates to target organ(s), mainly liver 

Contact with blood/tissue of infected animals 

Populations Livestock workers, veterinarians, anyone exposed 

Abdomen, epigastrium - pain Appetite - decreased (anorexia) 

Bowel movements - blood or black (hematochezia) (melena) Chills 

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Suggested Alternatives for Differential Diagnosis Acanthamoeba, louse-borne relapsing fever, dengue fever, Rift Valley fever, hemorrhagic fevers, leptospirosis, malaria, typhoid fever, typhus, liver failure, and hepatitis. 

Technical Disease Card for Rift Valley Fever." April 22,2002. 

Rickettsia ruminantium Rickettsia tsutsugamushi Rickettsia typhi Rickettsial Pox Rift Valley Fever Rinderpest Ring Rot of Potatoes Ringbakteriose Kartoffel Riogen... 

Rift Valley Fever Africa Mosquito Mosquito, Aerosol, Formites... 

Drugs Available Prophylactic ribavirin may be effective for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Lassa fever, and Rift Valley fever. 

Biological Agents BACTERIA (Anthrax, Brucellosis, Cholera, Plague, Tularemia). VIRUSES (Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Rift Valley Fever, Smallpox, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE), Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (Ebola)). TOXINS (Botulinum, Ricin, Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB), Trichothecene Mycotoxins/T-2). 

Rift Valley Fever 1, Aerosol 2, Infected vectors Low High 2-5 days Days to weeks Low Relatively stable Yes Effective No... 

Rift Valley fever Viral fever found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa where it is... 

Viruses (smallpox, encephalitis, and hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola, Lassa and Rift Valley fevers)... 

Rift Valley fever occurs primarily in sub-Saharan Africa where it is transmitted by mosquitoes. If a terrorist were to use Rift Valley fever, it would be dispersed as an aerosol. One troubling thing about a terrorist attack using this virus is that humans and domestic animals can become infected by aerosol means and a resident mosquito population can continue the assault. Defense against Rift Valley fever must include mosquito control. 

Rift Valley fever is characterized by high fever and the development of hemorrhagic areas under the skin. Only a small number of cases (<1%) go on to develop the more serious viral hemorrhagic fever syndrome that causes death in 50% of those who manifest this syndrome. The syndrome is associated with mucosal bleeding or hemorrhaging, liver and kidney failure, and shock before death. Some infections can be complicated with encephalitis and a variety of ocular defects.3... 

Treatments with immune globulin vaccines are useful against Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, Rift Valley fever, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, and Lassa fever Yellow fever vaccine is the only established and licensed vaccine for a hemorrhagic fever several others are under development... 

A number of virus diseases and virus related topics are described in this encyclopedia. Check alphabetical index for antiviral drugs, cancer research, cluckenpox, common cold coxsackie virus, dengue (breakbone fever), hepatitis, infectious mononucleosis, influenza, measles, mumps, Norwalk virus, poliomyelitis, rabies. Rift Valley fever, vaccinia, virus diseases (plants), and yellow fever. 

Phlebovirus Rift Valley fever Africa Mosquito 2-5... 

Rash, may be macular, petechial, or ecchymotic. Jaundice seen in Rift Valley fever and yellow fever. 

McGarvan, M.H., Easterday, B.C. Rift Valley fever virus hepatitis. Light and electron microscopic studies in the mouse. Amer. J. Path. 1963 42 587-607... 

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