Rift valley fever outbreak in Sembabule District, Uganda, December 2020.

One health Outbreak Rift Valley Fever Sembabule Uganda Zoonoses

Journal

One health outlook
ISSN: 2524-4655
Titre abrégé: One Health Outlook
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101769253

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
27 Nov 2023
Historique:
received: 12 09 2023
accepted: 08 11 2023
medline: 28 11 2023
pubmed: 28 11 2023
entrez: 28 11 2023
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral zoonosis that can cause severe haemorrhagic fevers in humans and high mortality rates and abortions in livestock. On 10 December 2020, the Uganda Ministry of Health was notified of the death of a 25-year-old male who tested RVF-positive by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the Uganda Virus Research Institute. We investigated to determine the scope of the outbreak, identify exposure factors, and institute control measures. A suspected case was acute-onset fever (or axillary temperature > 37.5 °C) and ≥ 2 of: headache, muscle or joint pain, unexpected bleeding, and any gastroenteritis symptom in a resident of Sembabule District from 1 November to 31 December 2020. A confirmed case was the detection of RVF virus nucleic acid by RT-PCR or serum IgM antibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A suspected animal case was livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) with any history of abortion. A confirmed animal case was the detection of anti-RVF IgM antibodies by ELISA. We took blood samples from herdsmen who worked with the index case for RVF testing and conducted interviews to understand more about exposures and clinical characteristics. We reviewed medical records and conducted an active community search to identify additional suspects. Blood samples from animals on the index case's farm and two neighbouring farms were taken for RVF testing. The index case regularly drank raw cow milk. None of the seven herdsmen who worked with him nor his brother's wife had symptoms; however, a blood sample from one herdsman was positive for anti-RVF-specific IgM and IgG. Neither the index case nor the additional confirmed case-patient slaughtered or butchered any sick/dead animals nor handled abortus; however, some of the other herdsmen did report high-risk exposures to animal body fluids and drinking raw milk. Among 55 animal samples collected (2 males and 53 females), 29 (53%) were positive for anti-RVF-IgG. Two human RVF cases occurred in Sembabule District during December 2020, likely caused by close interaction between infected cattle and humans. A district-wide animal serosurvey, animal vaccination, and community education on infection prevention practices campaign could inform RVF exposures and reduce disease burden.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral zoonosis that can cause severe haemorrhagic fevers in humans and high mortality rates and abortions in livestock. On 10 December 2020, the Uganda Ministry of Health was notified of the death of a 25-year-old male who tested RVF-positive by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the Uganda Virus Research Institute. We investigated to determine the scope of the outbreak, identify exposure factors, and institute control measures.
METHODS METHODS
A suspected case was acute-onset fever (or axillary temperature > 37.5 °C) and ≥ 2 of: headache, muscle or joint pain, unexpected bleeding, and any gastroenteritis symptom in a resident of Sembabule District from 1 November to 31 December 2020. A confirmed case was the detection of RVF virus nucleic acid by RT-PCR or serum IgM antibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A suspected animal case was livestock (cattle, sheep, goats) with any history of abortion. A confirmed animal case was the detection of anti-RVF IgM antibodies by ELISA. We took blood samples from herdsmen who worked with the index case for RVF testing and conducted interviews to understand more about exposures and clinical characteristics. We reviewed medical records and conducted an active community search to identify additional suspects. Blood samples from animals on the index case's farm and two neighbouring farms were taken for RVF testing.
RESULTS RESULTS
The index case regularly drank raw cow milk. None of the seven herdsmen who worked with him nor his brother's wife had symptoms; however, a blood sample from one herdsman was positive for anti-RVF-specific IgM and IgG. Neither the index case nor the additional confirmed case-patient slaughtered or butchered any sick/dead animals nor handled abortus; however, some of the other herdsmen did report high-risk exposures to animal body fluids and drinking raw milk. Among 55 animal samples collected (2 males and 53 females), 29 (53%) were positive for anti-RVF-IgG.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
Two human RVF cases occurred in Sembabule District during December 2020, likely caused by close interaction between infected cattle and humans. A district-wide animal serosurvey, animal vaccination, and community education on infection prevention practices campaign could inform RVF exposures and reduce disease burden.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38012800
doi: 10.1186/s42522-023-00092-3
pii: 10.1186/s42522-023-00092-3
pmc: PMC10680244
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

16

Subventions

Organisme : World Health Organization
ID : 001
Pays : International

Informations de copyright

© 2023. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Freda Loy Aceng (FL)

Department of Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda. faceng@musph.ac.ug.

Joshua Kayiwa (J)

Department of Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Uganda Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Peter Elyanu (P)

Baylor College of Medicine - Children's Foundation, Kampala, Uganda.

Joseph Ojwang (J)

Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda.

Luke Nyakarahuka (L)

Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.

Stephen Balinandi (S)

Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.

Jayne Byakika-Tusiime (J)

World Health Organization, Kampala, Uganda.

Alfred Wejuli (A)

Department of Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Julie Rebecca Harris (JR)

Division of Global Health Protection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda.

John Opolot (J)

Department of Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Classifications MeSH