Rwanda has intensified measures after a second Rift Valley Fever outbreak in two years, near the Tanzania border. Officials recall the 2022 outbreak, when a study recorded 173 human cases and 22 deaths and many animals also died. The latest outbreak began in mid‑August and authorities increased surveillance in affected areas.
Vaccination campaigns for livestock started on 7 September 2024. As of 30 September the Rwanda Biomedical Centre reported 28 positive cases in livestock. The Rwanda Agriculture Board said 8,410 of 32,999 earmarked animals had been vaccinated.
Disease specialists say a main problem is the lack of rapid diagnostic tests. Edson Rwagasore noted that PCR testing can take up to six hours and that rapid kits are unavailable. There is no licensed human vaccine yet, but the candidate ChAdOx1 RVF moved into Phase II trials in Kenya on 13 October after positive Phase I results in the UK. Experts warn the outbreak risk remains and urge stronger surveillance, diagnostics and research collaboration.
Difficult words
- outbreak — a sudden start of a disease in people
- surveillance — careful monitoring of disease or health problems
- vaccination — giving medicine to prevent a disease
- livestock — farm animals kept for food or work
- earmark — to set aside for a specific useearmarked
- trial — a test of a new medicine or vaccinetrials
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How would stronger surveillance help local communities during an outbreak?
- Do you think vaccinating livestock is important even if some animals die? Why or why not?
- How might lack of rapid tests affect doctors and patients during this outbreak?
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