Rift Valley Fever in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) Region

Abstract

Rift valley fever (RVF) is a debilitating disease leading to economic loss in livestock, severe clinical forms, and fatal cases in humans. The re-emergence of RVF in some countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has caused global public concern. The aim of this review is to highlight the different outbreaks in the MENA region and the threat generated by the extension of geographical distribution of the disease, drawing special attention to different determinant factors, and to discuss different strategies to overcome and control the trans-boundary extension of RVF. RVF was restricted to certain countries of the African continent. Recently, different outbreaks were declared in the MENA region, especially, in Egypt (1977–1978, 1993, 1994, 1997 and 2003), Saudi Arabia, and Yemen (2000–2001). Geopolitical, humanitarian socioeconomic, and climate changes have dramatically affected several countries in the region and favored the expansion of RVF. The re-emergence of RVF and its extension beyond the African continent has threatened the globe and increased the fear of new epizootics and outbreaks. In the MENA region, three countries were mainly affected by RVF epizootics: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The implementation of the “One Health” approach considering human, animals, and ecosystems in MENA region will help reduce the threat of this re-emerging disease.