RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) OUTBREAK
What happened?
- In early November 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Mauritania and Senegal, West Africa.
- From late September to October 2025:
- 404+ confirmed human cases
- 42+ deaths
- The disease has a case fatality rate (CFR) of around 10%, which is considered high.
WHY IS THIS OUTBREAK IMPORTANT?
- RVF is a viral disease that affects both animals and humans (a zoonotic disease).
- It spreads very quickly among livestock, so it is listed as a notifiable disease by global animal health authorities.
- It is also on the WHO list of priority diseases that could cause epidemics.
- Because of its potential to spread fast and cause serious illness, it is even considered a possible biological threat, so strong surveillance is needed.
ORIGIN & HISTORY
- First found in the Rift Valley region of Kenya in the 1930s, during investigations into sudden deaths in livestock.
- Since then, outbreaks have occurred across sub-Saharan Africa, mainly after heavy rains.
- It spread beyond Africa:
- Egypt (1977)
- Saudi Arabia and Yemen (2000) — first time outside Africa.
HOW DOES RVF SPREAD? (EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRIAD)
1. Agent (the virus)
- Caused by a Phlebovirus of the Phenuiviridae
2. Host (who gets infected?)
- Animals: Sheep and goats are most affected, but cattle and camels can also get infected.
- Humans: Mainly those who work closely with animals — farmers, herders, veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers.
3. Environment
- Heavy rainfall + flooding → more mosquito breeding → higher risk of outbreaks.
HOW HUMANS GET AFFECTED?
Two ways:
- Mosquito bites
- Direct contact with blood, organs, or raw milk of infected animals
- No human-to-human spread has been documented. SYMPTOMS Most people (90%)
- Get a mild, flu-like illness:
- Fever, body aches, headache, nausea
- Symptoms last 3–7 days
- Most recover fully
Severe cases (rare, but dangerous)
- Eye problems (0.5–2%) → blurred vision; can cause permanent sight loss
- Brain infection (meningoencephalitis, <1%) → confusion, seizures
- Haemorrhagic form (<1%) → most fatal
- Liver failure, jaundice, internal bleeding
- Up to 50% may die within a week
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT
- Difficult to diagnose because it looks like malaria or typhoid.
- Needs special laboratory tests.
- No specific antiviral treatment
- Care is supportive, focusing on hydration and organ monitoring.
- No licensed human vaccine
- Vaccines exist for animals, but work best when used between outbreaks.
RVF IN INDIA
- India has never reported any RVF case in humans or animals.
- But because India has:
- A large livestock population
- Mosquito-friendly climate
- International trade preparedness is crucial.
- RVF is included in India’s One Health surveillance
- India is focusing on:
- Strengthening diagnostic labs
- Better veterinary surveillance
- Strong border inspections
ONE HEALTH APPROACH
Efforts include:
- Monitoring livestock for unusual abortions or deaths.
- Controlling mosquito breeding (draining stagnant water).
- Educating farmers to use gloves, masks; avoid raw milk.
- Restricting animal movement during outbreaks.
- Hospitals following strict sample-handling rules.
ONE HEALTH
The interdependence between humans, animals and environment has been made increasingly evident with the emergence of pandemics such as COVID-19.
It is not just humans who are affected by pandemics but also livestock — an example being the outbreak of lumpy skin disease that has spread across countries.
The recent decision on the ‘National One Health Mission’ by the cabinet marks a milestone.
NATIONAL ONE HEALTH MISSION
In July 2022, the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) endorsed the setting up of the ‘National One Health Mission’.
Since then, 13 Ministries and Departments as well as science funding agencies — this includes the Department Of Science and Technology, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Department of Pharmaceuticals, and AYUSH, or Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy — the Ministries of Health, Animal Husbandry and Environment as well as Defence came together to shape the mission, taking one of the most holistic approaches to one health and pandemic preparedness in the world.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ONE HEALTH
There was consensus among the leadership of these Ministries to have a National Institute for One Health.
Based in Nagpur, it is to be the anchor in coordinating activities nationally, and the nodal agency to coordinate international activities across the space of one health.
The foundation stone of this institute was laid by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 11, 2022.
GOALS OF ONE HEALTH STRATEGY
The goals of the ‘National One Health Mission’ are:
- To develop strategies for integrated disease surveillance.
- Joint outbreak response.
- Coordinated research and development (R&D) and
- Ensure seamless information sharing for better control of routine diseases as well as those.
ONE HEALTH AS A GLOBAL TOPIC
‘One Health’ is a global topic. During India’s presidency of the G20, this approach was highlighted and widely endorsed by all the members to work together in specific areas such as building better surveillance capacity, analytic capability and setting up an international network of ‘One Health’ institutes.
‘One Health’ is not just limited to diseases. It concerns wider aspects such as antimicrobial resistance, food safety, plant diseases and the impact of climate change on all of these.
Intersectoral topics such as ‘One Health’ require close engagement of not just different governmental agencies but also non-governmental organisations, academia, the private sector and also citizens.
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