Rift Valley Fever Virus Epidemiology and Control

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arthropod-borne zoonotic pathogen that circulates primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Transmitted by a variety of mosquito species, RVFV causes high morbidity and mortality in livestock, characterised by abortion storms and neonatal death, and sporadic but severe disease in humans, including haemorrhagic fever, encephalitis and vision loss. Epidemics are typically driven by heavy rainfall and flooding, which create ideal breeding conditions for vector populations. The virus persists in transovarially infected Aedes eggs, enabling re-emergence when environmental conditions become favourable. Control strategies focus on integrated surveillance, rapid diagnosis, targeted livestock vaccination and vector control. Recent advances in immunotherapeutics and vaccine platforms have renewed prospects for both veterinary and human prophylaxis, while improved molecular epidemiology informs risk mapping and early warning systems. A One Health approach, uniting veterinary, medical and entomological disciplines, is essential to mitigate the global threat posed by RVFV.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of monoclonal antibody therapy and novel vaccine platforms to curb RVFV transmission. A potent human neutralising monoclonal antibody has been shown to reduce viral replication in placental tissue and prevent vertical transmission in a rodent model, supporting its utility as pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for pregnant hosts. Separately, a replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus vector encoding RVFV envelope glycoproteins elicits high-titre neutralising antibody responses and confers robust protection in sheep, goats, cattle and dromedary camels following a single dose, illustrating a promising multispecies vaccine candidate suitable for co-development under a One Health framework.

Rift Valley Fever Virus Epidemiology and Control publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in rift valley fever virus epidemiology and control across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Zoonosis: A disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

Arbovirus: A virus transmitted by arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks.

Monoclonal antibody: A laboratory-engineered antibody that recognises a single antigenic site on a pathogen.

Adenovirus-vectored vaccine: A vaccine that uses a modified adenovirus to deliver genetic instructions for pathogen antigens.

Vertical transmission: The passage of a pathogen from a pregnant individual to the fetus or newborn.

References

1. A highly potent human neutralizing antibody prevents vertical transmission of Rift Valley fever virus in a rat model. Nature Communications (2023).
2. Chimpanzee Adenovirus Vaccine Provides Multispecies Protection against Rift Valley Fever. Scientific Reports (2016).
3. Current Status of Rift Valley Fever Vaccine Development. Vaccines (2017).
4. The 2007 Rift Valley Fever Outbreak in Sudan. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2011).
5. Association of Rift Valley fever virus infection with miscarriage in Sudanese women: a cross-sectional study. The Lancet Global Health (2016).
6. Molecular Epidemiology of Rift Valley Fever Virus - Volume 17, Number 12—December 2011 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC. Emerging Infectious Diseases (2011).