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. 2020 Oct;103(4):1649-1655.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0387.

Epidemiological Investigation of a Rift Valley Fever Outbreak in Humans and Livestock in Kenya, 2018

Abdala Hassan  1 , Mathew Muturi  2 , Athman Mwatondo  2 , Jack Omolo  2 , Bernard Bett  3 , Solomon Gikundi  4 , Limbaso Konongoi  5 , Victor Ofula  5 , Lyndah Makayotto  6 , Jacqueline Kasiti  7 , Elizabeth Oele  1 , Clayton Onyango  8 , Zeinab Gura  1 , Kariuki Njenga  9 , Peninah Munyua  8
Affiliations

Epidemiological Investigation of a Rift Valley Fever Outbreak in Humans and Livestock in Kenya, 2018

Abdala Hassan et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

On the last week of May of 2018, a community-based syndromic surveillance system detected mass abortions and deaths of young livestock in northeastern Kenya. Two weeks later, Rift Valley fever (RVF) was confirmed in humans presenting with febrile illness and hemorrhagic syndrome in the same region. A joint animal and human response team carried out an investigation to characterize the outbreak and identify drivers of disease transmission. Here, we describe the outbreak investigation and findings. A total of 106 human cases were identified in the months of May and June 2018: 92% (98) and 8% (8) of these cases occurring in the northern and western regions of Kenya, respectively. Seventy-six (72%) were probable cases, and 30 (28%) were laboratory confirmed by ELISA and/or PCR. Among the confirmed cases, the median age was 27.5 years (interquartile range = 20), and 60% (18) were males. Overall, the case fatality rate was 7% (n = 8). The majority of the confirmed cases, 19 (63%), reported contact with livestock during slaughter and consumption of meat from sick animals. All confirmed cases had fever, 40% (12) presented with hemorrhagic syndrome, and 23% (7) presented with jaundice. Forty-three livestock herds with at least one suspect and/or confirmed animal case were identified. Death of young animals was reported in 93% (40) and abortions in 84% (36) of livestock herds. The outbreak is indicative of the emergence potential of RVF in traditionally high- and low-risk areas and the risk posed by zoonosis to livestock keepers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. CDC or any of the other author institutions.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Spatial distribution of human Rift Valley fever cases (probable and confirmed) by counties, Kenya, May–June 2018 (n = 106). This figure appears in color at www.ajtmh.org.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Epidemiologic curve of human Rift Valley fever cases by date of onset of symptoms, Kenya, May–June 2018 (n = 106). This figure appears in color at www.ajtmh.org.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Temporal distribution of Rift Valley fever-suspected herds by date of onset of abortions among livestock, Wajir County, 2018. The arrow in red shows the suspected index case. This figure appears in color at www.ajtmh.org.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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