Rift Valley Fever Outbreak Investigation Associated with a Dairy Farm Abortion Storm, Mbarara District, Western Uganda, 2023
In Africa, Rift Valley Fever poses a substantial risk to animal health, and human cases occur after contact with infected animals or their tissues. RVF has re-emerged in Uganda after nearly five decades, with multiple outbreaks recorded since 2016. We investigated a unique RVF outbreak associated with an animal abortion storm of 30 events and human cases on a dairy farm in Mbarara District, Western Uganda, in February 2023. Genomic analysis was performed, comparing animal and human RVF viruses (RVFV) circulating in the region. A cluster of thirteen human RVF cases and nine PCR-positive animals could directly be linked with the abortion storm. Overall, during the year 2023, we confirmed 61 human RVFV cases across Uganda, 88.5% of which were reported to have had direct contact with livestock, and a high case fatality rate of 31%. We recommend implementing extensive health education programs in affected communities and using sustainable mosquito control strategies to limit transmission in livestock, coupled with initiating animal vaccination trials in Uganda.
Authors
- John D. Klena (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9933-6193)
- Nelson Wandera
- Shannon Whitmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0819-6736)
- Stephen Karabyo Balinandi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3057-0755)
- Alex Tumusiime (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2651-9703)
- David Muwanguzi
- Carson Telford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2778-2597)
- Julius J. Lutwama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3210-722X)
- Luke Nyakarahuka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2944-9157)
- Francis Mugabi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9132-3195)
- Sophia Mulei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3708-9742)
- Jimmy Baluku
- Annet Martha Nankya
- Dianah Namanya
- Trevor R. Shoemaker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6874-6309)
- Zainah Kabami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3416-4111)
- Jackson Kyondo
- Amy Whitesell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1428-8039)
- Mariam Nambuya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1047-8758)
- Rose Muhindo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7128-4870)
- Joel M. Montgomery
- Calvin Richie Torach
- Joanita Mutesi
- Dominic Muhereza
Institutions
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology (UG)
- Mbarara National Referral Hospital (UG)
- Ministry of Health (UG)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (UG)
- Public Health Institute (US)
- The Centers (US)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KE)
- Makerere University (UG)
- Uganda Virus Research Institute (UG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Viruses
- Published
- 2025-07-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/v17071015
- Primary Topic
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention