Rift Valley fever outbreaks in livestock in Uganda from 2013 to 2022
- From
-
Published on
28.05.25
Rift Valley fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the Rift Valley fever virus, primarily affecting livestock and transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
First detected in Kenya in 1930, the disease has since spread across Africa, including Uganda, and to the Arabian Peninsula.
Uganda reported its first human cases of Rift Valley fever in 1968, with sporadic outbreaks continuing since the significant outbreak in 2016, particularly in regions with high livestock populations.
Although the Rift Valley fever virus was detected in mosquitoes in Uganda as early as 1944, the spatial and temporal distribution of disease outbreaks has not been thoroughly documented.
Therefore, this study was carried out to analyze trends in Rift Valley fever outbreaks across Uganda from 2013 to 2022 to provide insights for effective control measures.
The study was carried out by scientists from the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Centre in Uganda, Makerere University and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Citation
Arinaitwe, E., Atuhaire, D.K., Hasahya, E., Nakanjako, G.K., Mwebe, R., Nizeyimana, G., Afayoa, M., Mwiine, F.N. and Erume, J. 2025. Spatial and temporal analysis of Rift Valley fever outbreaks in livestock in Uganda: a retrospective study from 2013 to 2022. BMC Veterinary Research 21: 375.
Photo: Ankole cattle in Mbarara, Uganda (ILRI/Stevie Mann)