Submission ID 117072
| Issue/Objective | Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that continues to pose a serious threat to both animal and human health across sub-Saharan Africa. In Rwanda, recent outbreaks in 2022, 2023, and 2024 have underscored the growing scale and impact of RVF, affecting 29 out of 30 districts. These outbreaks not only disrupted public health systems and livelihoods but also exposed critical gaps in disease preparedness and response. In response, the Rwandan government mobilized a national RVF task force that facilitated coordinated action across sectors, marking a significant step toward implementing a One Health approach in outbreak management. This study shares key lessons from the 2022 outbreak and presents findings from recent research focused on two priority areas: vaccine immunogenicity and viral genomic characterization. |
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| Methodology/Approach | We evaluated the immune response to the RIFTOVAX-LR vaccine in both pregnant and non-pregnant cattle. |
| Results | Although the vaccine was well tolerated, overall seroconversion rates were low, in both non-pregnant and pregnant cattle, raising important concerns about the vaccine's ability to offer effective protection in the field. In parallel, genomic sequencing of RVFV strains from the 2024 outbreak in Ngoma District revealed that the circulating virus belonged to lineage C, showing more than 99% genetic similarity to strains detected during the 2018 and 2022 outbreaks. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | These results point to an urgent need to explore alternative formulations, use of adjuvants, or revised vaccination strategies to boost immune response in high-risk populations. On the other side, these findings suggest that RVFV is not being reintroduced from outside but is instead persisting locally, highlighting the virus's enzootic nature in the region. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Jean Claude Udahemuka Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda & Stansile Evodie Uwibambe Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board Brigitte Umutoni AIMS RIC Leandre Murhula Masirika Congo Outbreaks, Research for Development Pacifique Ndishimye Stansile Fabrice Ndayisenga Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board Audace Mukiza Stansile Audace Mukiza Stansile & Gihundwe District Hospital |
