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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » ABADRU » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #271228
Title: Potential Effects of Rift Valley Fever in the United States

Author
item HARTLEY, DAVID - Us Deparment Of Homeland Security
item RINDERKNECHT, JENNIFER - Us Deparment Of Homeland Security
item NIPP, TERRY - Us Deparment Of Homeland Security
item CLARKE, NEVILLE - West Texas A & M University
item SNOWDER, GARY - Us Deparment Of Homeland Security

Submitted to: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2011
Publication Date: 7/27/2011
Citation: Hartley, D.M., Rinderknecht, J.L., Nipp, T.L., Clarke, N., Snowder, G.D. 2011. Potential Effects of Rift Valley Fever in the United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 17: 1-8.

Interpretive Summary: A panel of US experts was brought together to identify research gaps in the current understanding of a deadly zoonotic disease, Rift Valley fever, found in Africa and the Arabian peninsula. Heavy economic costs through loss of livestock result when outbreaks occur. The panel’s discussions and recommendations are summarized in this report with an emphasis on the information need for computer risk assessment models related to economic and virus spread should the causative agent be introduced into the US.

Technical Abstract: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) has been the cause of disease outbreaks throughout Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and the infection often results in heavy economic costs through loss of livestock. If RVFV, which is common to select agent lists of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture, entered the United States, either by accidental or purposeful means, the effects could be substantial. A group of subject matter experts met in December 2009 to discuss potential implications of an introduction of RVF to the United States and review current modeling capabilities. This workshop followed a similar meeting held in April 2007. This report summarizes the 2 workshop proceedings. Discussions primarily highlighted gaps in current economic and epidemiologic RVF models as well as gaps in the overall epidemiology of the virus.