Preparation of Rift Valley fever contingency plans

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the most serious transboundary animal diseases. It is a mosquito-borne viral disease, which causes periodic severe epidemics, principally involving ruminant animals. RVF is also an important zoonosis and one of the significant acute haemorrhagic fevers affecting human beings. Until recently it had only been recognized in the African continent, but in 2000 it occurred in the Arabian Peninsula. As well as its severe socio-economic and public health consequences, RVF is a major constraint to international livestock trade. This manual provides information on the nature of RVF and the principles and strategic options for its prevention, control and elimination. Guidelines are provided for individual countries threatened by RVF to formulate their overall national policy on control and eradication of a possible incursion of the disease. The manual also identifies personnel, equipment and other facilities that are needed in a national RVF contingency plan. An outline of suggested format and contents of a national RVF contingency plan is provided as a guide but should be modified to suit the needs and circumstances of individual countries.