This disease has had a name from the first time it was discovered. The virus was first identified in 1931 while investigating the deaths of sheep on a farm in Kenya’s Rift Valley (
).
The RVF virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, spreading between domesticated animals and then to humans. People usually become infected by direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of an infected animal, or by being bitten by an infected mosquito. It is not spread from person to person (
).
The RVF virus has an incubation period of 2 to 6 days after exposure and can cause some symptoms.
Those infected show no detectable symptoms or develop a mild form of the disease characterized by sudden onset of flu-like fever, muscle pain, athritisand headache. Some patients develop stiff necksensitive to light, loss of appetiteand vomiting.
While most cases in humans are relatively mild, a small percentage of people develop the following conditions:
How To Treat Rift Valley Fever?
Since most human cases are relatively mild and of short duration, there is no specific treatment. For severe cases, the main treatment is general supportive therapy.
An inactivated vaccine has been developed for human use. However, this vaccine is not licensed and is not available for use. It has been used experimentally to protect veterinarians and laboratory personnel from RVF exposure. Other vaccines are still in development.
What is the latest breakthrough?
A new study conducted by a US-based virologist by disrupting 20,000 normal genes using CRISPR Technology discovered that the RVF virus enters human cells after a mosquito bite via a protein normally involved in the removal of low-density lipoprotein, which carries so-called ‘bad cholesterol’ from the blood (3✔ ✔Trusted source
Valley Rift Sauce
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).
They also found that the virus could not infect cells lacking the gene for the LDL receptor-associated protein 1, or LRP1. This new finding could be used in the future to develop drugs against RVF and also to vaccinate against the disease to save lives of humans and animals.
How to prevent?
The only way currently available to prevent outbreaks of RVF in animals is by vaccination. Once an outbreak has occurred, it is not advisable to vaccinate pets because there is a high risk of a flare-up again.
Restricting the movement of animals can slow the spread of the virus from infected areas to uninfected areas. Other things people should keep in mind to prevent RVF infection are as follows (3✔ ✔Trusted source
Valley Rift Sauce
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The truth about the Rift Valley fever
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- Avoid contact with sick animals and the meat or milk of sick animals.
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat or milk.
- Thoroughly cook meat; Boil fresh milk.
- Report sick animals and unexpected deaths to your local veterinarian.
- Do not handle or bury dead livestock. Call your local veterinarian to dispose of the carcass correctly.
- Avoid mosquito bites by wearing long clothes, repellentand bed nets.
However, raising awareness of the risk factors for RVF infection and the protective measures individuals can take to prevent those risks are the most effective ways to reduce infection and mortality in People. Otherwise, it could become the next epidemic.
Presenter:
- What is Rift Valley Fever? – (https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/rvf/about.html)
- Lrp1 is a host entry factor for the Rift Valley fever virus – (What is Rift Valley Fever?)
- Valley Rift Sauce – (https://www.oie.int/en/disease/rift-valley-fever/)
- The truth about the Rift Valley craze – (https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/rift-valley-fever/facts)
Source: Medindia
