ARS | Publication request: Potential for Rift Valley to be Introduced into North America

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 15, 2008
Publication Date: March 2, 2008
Citation: Linthicum, K., Anyamba, A., Small, J., Tucker, C.J., Chretien, J., Britch, S.C., Pak, E. 2008. Potential for Rift Valley to be Introduced into North America. Meeting Abstract.

Technical Abstract: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease of domestic ruminants in Africa. The disease is most severe in cattle, sheep, and goats, causing mortality in young animals and abortion in adults. Human infection causes significant morbidity and mortality. RVF occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease first spread outside sub-Saharan Africa into Egypt in 1997 and resulted in large losses among the domestic animal populations and caused significant human disease. Subsequently, in 1987 a large outbreak in animals and people occurred in Sahel region of Senegal and Mauritania, and then in September 2000, a RVF outbreak occurred in Saudi Arabia and Yemen along the Red Sea Coast, representing the first Rift Valley fever cases identified outside Africa. After the virus is introduced into domestic animals a wide variety of mosquito species may serve as a vector. There are no licensed animal or human vaccines available for use in the United States, and there is minimal surveillance for the disease in North Amercia. Here we discuss the potential for the disease to be introduced into North America, and strategies to (1) prevent its introduction, (2) detect its introduction, and (3) erradicate it should it be introduced.