Coordinated measures for the surveillance and control of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and prevention of the risk of spillover to humans are paying off in Eastern Rwanda’s Ngoma district, thanks to the ‘One Health’ approach used by the Government of Rwanda, working with its partners.
As a result of Rwanda’s approach to managing the recent outbreak of RVF virus, which was confirmed in Ngoma district on August 19, 2024, out of 24 cases confirmed positive so far 12 animals have recovered (4 cows,4 sheep, and 4 goats), two animals died (1 cattle and 1 goat), while 10 animals are still under treatment (5 cows, 4 goats, and 1 sheep).
Several interventions have been conducted since the disease’s outbreak in Ngoma district, including strengthened animal caresuch as spraying with pyrethroid acaricides and providing vaccinations, as well as human health monitoring through active follow-up of individuals in households with affected animals.
Moreover, ruminant animal movement was restricted in the district, and abattoir slaughter activities resumed under the condition that animals must test negative for the disease using RT-PCR before being slaughtered, free of charge.
A coordinated response is actually crucial for RVF outbreak response, according to experts in the livestock sector.
And the Government of Rwanda endorsed the ‘One Health’approach to tackle the disease and continues to demonstrate strong political will to institutionalize it across all relevant sectors.
A coalition consisting of Rwandan entities responsible for animal production and human health, along with development partners, has thus intensified efforts to address RVF using the One Health approach. This is aimed at protecting livestock farmers from the losses caused by this destructive disease and safeguarding humans from its harmful effects.
RVF is a viral, zoonotic and severe mosquito-borne disease affecting domestic ruminants and humans. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and blood feeding flies. In humans, the disease ranges from a mild flu-like illness to severe hemorrhagic fever that can be lethal.
On June 15, 2024, the FAO issued an RVF alert to Rwanda and other countries in the Eastern Africa region, urging them to enhance preparedness to protect livestock, the livelihoods of livestock farmers, and public health. This also involved improving coordination with public health and environment services to manage potential RVF outbreaks in Rwanda.
Following this alert, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) remained on high alert, strengthened diseases surveillance, and commenced laboratory testing.
Information from Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) revealed that on August 19, 2024, a suspected case of RVF was identified in Rugarama village, Kinyonzo cell, Kazo sector, Ngoma District, Eastern Province. Samples were sent to the National Veterinary Laboratory for diagnostic testing, which confirmed the presence of RVF virus using the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis method.
In response, MINAGRI implemented extensive interventions, including treating affected cattle by administering penicillin-streptomycin to prevent secondary bacterial infections, castralgin and phenylbutazone to reduce fever, and vitamin K to address bleeding.
FAO, through its Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), collaborated with Government institutions including MINAGRI, RAB, and RBC to ensure a timely and effective response to the RVF outbreak in Ngoma District.
Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, the team leader of the FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), stated, "FAO is providing significant support to RAB and RBC to mobilize experts, including public health and veterinary epidemiologists, to conduct joint outbreak investigations and facilitate disease containment and control measures to mitigate the risk of RVF spreading to other districts and spilling over to humans."
Dr. Fabrice Ndayisenga, the Head of the Department of Animal Resources Research and Technology Transfer at RAB, emphasized the consistent partnership between the Government of Rwanda and FAO. He expressed gratitude for the support from FAO, which arrived at an opportune time to aid the government's efforts in preventing the RVF outbreak.
Dr. Ndayisenga highlighted the importance of ensuring an effective disease surveillance system to detect RVF quickly before it spreads, resulting in loss of lives and becoming difficult to control.
Measures for the surveillance, control of RVF, and prevention of the risk of spillover to humans in Ngoma district were placed under the coordination of a decentralized command post through a One Health approach led by Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), and Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) management, together with Ngoma district authorities.
As of September 18, 2024, the breakdown of the cases diagnosed and confirmed per livestock species showed that among 2,692 cattle, sheep and goats tested, 24 cases have been confirmed positive. These include 11 cattle, 8 goats, and 5 sheep distributed in five sectors of Ngoma district: Kazo, Mutendeli, Rurenge, Murama, and Rukira. Since then, 12 animals recovered (4 cows,4 sheep, 4 Goats), two animals died (1 cattle & 1 goat), and 10 animals are still under treatment (5 cows, 4 goats & 1 sheep).
Comprehensive and proactive approach including vaccination
Rwanda’s approach to managing Rift Valley Fever outbreaks demonstrates a comprehensive and proactive strategy involving surveillance, prevention, response, and community engagement, as well as working with partners in the concerted efforts against the disease.
According to MINAGRI, an RVF vaccination campaign for free is ongoing in Ngoma district, with efforts to extend it nationwide in the coming months, and Zipline drones facilitated vaccines delivery by maintaining the cold chain.
By continuously strengthening its systems and collaborating with international partners, Rwanda aims to mitigate the impact of RVF and protect both its livestock and human populations from this potentially devastating disease.
RVF surveillance approach
With the support from development partners like International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through USAID’s Global Health Security (GHS) Program, Rwanda has invested significantly in enhancing its animal disease surveillance systems. The country employs a multi-layered surveillance approach to monitor and detect RVF outbreaks.
The approach includes:
Early Warning Systems that utilize meteorological data to predict potential outbreaks. RVF is often linked to heavy rainfall and flooding, which create breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
Veterinary Laboratory Capacity for expanding and upgrading veterinary laboratory facilities to enable rapid diagnostic testing for RVF. This helps in the early detection of the disease and informs timely response measures. Under PRISM Project, government has constructed 15 proximity veterinary clinics/ posts.
Field Diseases Surveillance strengthening that covers aspects of Diseases surveillance. In May 2024, FAO trained five national experts from RBC, RAB, and MINEMA as RVF national focal points on RVF real-time modelling, risk forecasting, and digital innovation. Rwanda’s vigilance on RVF preparedness, enhancedpreparedness and anticipatory actions using a web-based Rift Valley Fever (RVF) Early Warning Decision Support Tool (RVF DST) has hence improved.
To achieve food security, public health and environmental protection, FAO is strengthening national capacities for readiness, preparedness and response to animal health threats and worked with RAB in assessment of capacity and performance of animal surveillance systems, including zoonosesin Rwanda using the FAO Surveillance Evaluation Tool (SET) in which action plan to better track diseases that affect both animals and people were developed.
FAO,WHO, RBC, and RAB have trained 416 Sectors Animal Resources Officers – countrywide – on electronic integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (eIDSR) System. This training included equipping them with ICT tools for efficient data collection, analysis, storage, and information sharing.
The enhanced system is designed to enable timely detection, reporting, and response to zoonotic diseases and other public health threats, thereby reducing the loss of human life and mitigating the socio-economic impacts of disease outbreaks.
To monitor and prevent diseases for the health of a population, FAO initiated epidemiological tool for identification, characterization and mapping hotspots of Anthrax, Rift Valley Fever, and highly pathogenic avian influenza in Rwanda to describe the current burden and their epidemiology, to monitor diseases trends, and to identify outbreaks and new pathogens.
Vector Control which underscores how efforts to control mosquito populations through environmental management and the use of insecticides is crucial. These measures help reduce the incidence of RVF by minimizing the transmission potential.
Public Awareness Campaigns which consist of educating farmers and the general public about RVF, its transmission, and preventive measures. Information is disseminated through workshops, radio programs, and community meetings.
RVF was first confirmed in Rwanda's livestock in 2012 and since then sporadic cases have been reported and dealt with. In 2018, the country experienced its first large outbreak, which was followed by a second one in 2022, as per information from MINAGRI.