Recurrence of Rift Valley fever in Egypt

• Published in: The Lancet (British edition) Vol. 342; no. 8880; pp. 1149 - 1150
• Main Authors: Arthur, R.R., Cope, S.E., Botros, B.A., Hibbs, R.G., Imam, I.Z.E., El-Sharkawy, M.S., Oun, S., Morrill, J.C., Shope, R.E., Darwish, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 06.11.1993; Lancet; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abortion; Abortion, Veterinary - microbiology; Adult; Allergens; Allergies; Animals; Antibodies; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Buffaloes; Cattle; Coccidioidomycosis; Disease; Domestic animals; Egypt; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Fever; Gloves; Goats; Hospitals; Human viral diseases; Humans; Illnesses; Infections; Infectious diseases; Livestock; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Recurrence; Rift Valley fever; Rift Valley Fever - epidemiology; Rift Valley Fever - immunology; Rift Valley Fever - physiopathology; Rift Valley fever virus - immunology; Rift Valley fever virus - isolation & purification; Rubber; Serology; Sheep; Tropical medicine; Tropical viral diseases; Urticaria; Vector-borne diseases; Viral diseases; Africa; Egypt; Infection; Rift valley fever; Human; Recurrence; Viral disease; Arbovirus disease; Evolution; Public health
• ISSN: 0140-6736; 1474-547X
• DOI: 10.1016/0140-6736(93)92128-G

Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been recorded in man and in domestic animals in Egypt after a 12-year absence. Human infections were first noted in the Aswan Governorate in late May, 1993. Only cases of ocular disease, an infrequent and late manifestation, were reported. Of 41 cases, 35 were tested serologically and 27 (77%) had RVF virus-specific IgM antibodies. An estimated 600-1500 infections occurred in the region. Abortions in cattle and buffalo were seen concurrently and antibodies to RVFV were present in 39% of domestic livestock, presumably unvaccinated. RVFV was isolated from an aborted water buffalo fetus.