Perceived risk factors and risk pathways of Rift Valley fever in cattle in Ijara district, Kenya.

Nelson O Owange,Hippolyte Affognon,Rosemary Sang,Washington Onyango-Ouma,Sam Okuthe,Jacqueline Kasiiti,Murithi Mbabu,Peter B Gathura,Tobias T.O Landmann,William O Ogara

doi:10.4102/ojvr.v81i1.780

Abstract

Ijara district in Kenya was one of the hotspots of Rift Valley fever (RVF) during the 2006/2007 outbreak, which led to human and animal deaths causing major economic losses. The main constraint for the control and prevention of RVF is inadequate knowledge of the risk factors for its occurrence and maintenance. This study was aimed at understanding the perceived risk factors and risk pathways of RVF in cattle in Ijara to enable the development of improved community-based disease surveillance, prediction, control and prevention. A cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2012 to June 2013. Thirty-one key informant interviews were conducted with relevant stakeholders to determine the local pastoralists' understanding of risk factors and risk pathways of RVF in cattle in Ijara district. All the key informants perceived the presence of high numbers of mosquitoes and large numbers of cattle to be the most important risk factors contributing to the occurrence of RVF in cattle in Ijara. Key informants classified high rainfall as the most important (12/31) to an important (19/31) risk factor. The main risk pathways were infected mosquitoes that bite cattle whilst grazing and at watering points as well as close contact between domestic animals and wildlife. The likelihood of contamination of the environment as a result of poor handling of carcasses and aborted foetuses during RVF outbreaks was not considered an important pathway. There is therefore a need to conduct regular participatory community awareness sessions on handling of animal carcasses in terms of preparedness, prevention and control of any possible RVF epizootics. Additionally, monitoring of environmental conditions to detect enhanced rainfall and flooding should be prioritised for preparedness.

Highlights

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral disease caused by Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a member of the genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae
Availability of vectors (31/31 = 4), large number of cattle (29/31 = 4; 2/31 = 3) and high rainfall (12/31 = 4; 19/31 = 3) are rated most important and/or important risk factors associated with RVF in Ijara (Table 1)
All the respondents rated drought as not important as a risk factor associated with RVF

Summary

Introduction

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral disease caused by Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a member of the genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae. It is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis that periodically causes disease outbreaks in humans and livestock (Davies, Linthicum & James 1985). In 1997/1998 and 2006/2007, massive outbreaks of RVF occurred in East Africa, both associated with El Niño events (CDC 2007; Woods & Karpati 2002), with an estimated 27 500 human cases and more than 600 deaths reported in 1997/1998 in Kenya alone. The two outbreaks (in 1997/1998 and 2006/2007) were the most notable in terms of public health and socio-economic impact (Murithi et al 2010)

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