What is RVFV?

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen of livestock and humans that has historically been responsible for widespread outbreaks of severe livestock and human disease throughout Africa and the western Arabian Peninsula [1].

What are the causes of RVF?

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral disease most commonly seen in domesticated animals in sub-Saharan Africa, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels. People can get RVF through contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals, or through bites from infected mosquitoes.

What are the symptoms of RVF?

RVFV has an incubation period of 2-6 days following exposure to the virus, and can cause several different disease syndromes if symptoms do appear. Most commonly, people with RVF have either no symptoms or a mild illness that includes fever, weakness, back pain, and dizziness at the onset of illness.

Is Rift Valley fever a flavivirus?

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral zoonosis that primarily affects animals but also has the capacity to infect humans. Infection can cause severe disease in both animals and humans. The disease also results in significant economic losses due to death and abortion among RVF-infected livestock.

What part of the body does valley fever affect?

It happens when the infection spreads from the lungs to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. It can affect many organs, and particularly the skin, liver, brain, bones, meninges, and heart. Signs and symptoms vary depending on which parts of the body are affected.

How do you prevent RVF?

People living in or visiting areas with RVF can prevent infection with these steps:

1. Avoid contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals.
2. Avoid unsafe animal products.
3. Protect yourself against mosquitoes and other bloodsucking insects.

Does valley fever affect the eyes?

Valley Fever can cause inflammation inside of the eye leading to retinal detachment and glaucoma (elevated pressure inside the eye that causes discomfort and vision loss). It can also affect the eyelids and cause swelling or redness. Eyelid involvement is seen more commonly in infected cats than dogs.

What type of disease is Rift Valley fever?

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever that is most commonly seen in domesticated animals (such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels) and can also cause illness in people. The disease is caused by RVF virus (RVFV), a member of the genus Phlebovirus in the order Bunyavirales.

What is the best treatment for Valley fever?

Antifungal medication is typically given to people who are at higher risk for developing severe Valley fever. The treatment is usually 3 to 6 months of fluconazole or another type of antifungal medication. There are no over-the-counter medications to treat Valley fever.

Is there a vaccine for RVF?

Smithburn Vaccine. The modified live Smithburn vaccine is one of the oldest and most widely used vaccines for controlling RVF in Africa. The vaccine virus is a neurotropic RVFV strain [66], isolated from a mosquito Eretmapodites spp.

What are the long term effects of Valley fever?

It is rare but can be very serious and fatal if not treated. In severe cases, Valley fever can develop into chronic pneumonia (lung infection) or meningitis (spine or brain infection) or infect bones and joints.