Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jul 2007)

Rift Valley Fever Outbreak with East-Central African Virus Lineage in Mauritania, 2003

  • Ousmane Faye,
  • Mawlouth Diallo,
  • Djibril Diop,
  • O. Elmamy Bezeid,
  • Hampathé Bâ,
  • Mbayame Niang,
  • Ibrahima Dia,
  • Sid Ahmed Ould Mohamed,
  • Kader Ndiaye,
  • Diawo Diallo,
  • Peinda Ogo Ly,
  • Boubacar Diallo,
  • Pierre Nabeth,
  • François Simon,
  • Baïdy Lô,
  • Ousmane Madiagne Diop

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1307.061487
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 7
pp. 1016 – 1016

Abstract

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In October 2003, 9 human cases of hemorrhagic fever were reported in 3 provinces of Mauritania, West Africa. Test results showed acute Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) infection, and a field investigation found recent circulation of RVFV with a prevalence rate of 25.5% (25/98) and 4 deaths among the 25 laboratory-confirmed case-patients. Immunoglobulin M against RVFV was found in 46% (25/54) of domestic animals. RVFV was also isolated from the mosquito species Culex poicilipes. Genetic comparison of virion segments indicated little variation among the strains isolated. However, phylogenetic studies clearly demonstrated that these strains belonged to the East-Central African lineage for all segments. To our knowledge, this is the first time viruses of this lineage have been observed in an outbreak in West Africa. Whether these strains were introduced or are endemic in West Africa remains to be determined.

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