Rift Valley fever in West Africa: A zoonotic disease with multiple socio-economic consequences
Bachirou Tinto,
Jordan Quellec,
Catherine Cêtre-Sossah,
Amadou Dicko,
Sara Salinas,
Yannick Simonin
Affiliations
Bachirou Tinto
Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang, Montpellier, France; Laboratoire National de Référence des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virale, Centre MURAZ, Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; Corresponding author at: Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang, Montpellier, France.
Jordan Quellec
Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang, Montpellier, France; ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAe, Montpellier, France
Catherine Cêtre-Sossah
ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAe, Montpellier, France
Amadou Dicko
Laboratoire central de référence, Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Ministère de l'Agriculture, des ressources animales et halieutiques du Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Sara Salinas
Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang, Montpellier, France
Yannick Simonin
Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang, Montpellier, France; ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAe, Montpellier, France
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus that causes Rift Valley fever (RVF), a zoonotic disease that mainly affects domestic and wildlife ruminants and humans. The first epidemic in North-Western and West Africa occurred in Senegal and Mauritania in 1987, two countries where RVF is now endemic. Slaughterhouse workers, farmers, herders and veterinarians are at high risk of exposure to RVF. Beyond the health threat, RVF is considered to cause major socio-economic problems, specifically in developing countries where livestock farming and trade are important economic activities. Indeed, the mortality rate linked to RVF infection can reach 95–100% in newborns and young animals. In West Africa, livestock production is a key factor for food production and for national economics. Epizootics caused by RVF can therefore have serious socio-economic consequences by impacting multisectoral economics, the psycho-social health of pastoral communities, and food security. Improving prevention strategies against RVF, including vaccination, enhancing knowledge of RVF and correcting any inappropriate behaviors by populations of endemics areas, as well as better monitoring of RVF ecological factors are effective ways to better foresee and control outbreaks of RVF and its socio-economical side-effects in countries at high risk of occurrence of the disease.
