Rift Valley fever in Tunisia: Review of the current situation and perspectives

Authors

    S. Mejri

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.36975

Keywords


Rift Valley fever virus, epidemiology, risk factors, Tunisia

Abstract

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging zoonotic disease that infects humans and ruminants. It is caused by the RVF virus, an arbovirus mainly transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes’ bites. In the last two decades, RVF cases have been reported in regions that were previously free of the disease, and epidemics have occurred more frequently. Tunisia has a strategic geographical location in the Mediterranean Basin and has important exchanges with other African countries as well as with Europe. The analysis of RVF epidemiological situation in this country could help to understand the global RVF epidemiology in the Mediterranean area and to design efficient surveillance strategies to be implemented in the region. In this context and to study the current status of RVF in Tunisia, this review analyzes all the published scientific papers related to the disease in the country. Tunisia is considered at high risk of RVF spread due to its geographic location, climatic and environmental characteristics, abundance of RVFV-virus vector species, and presence of susceptible animal species. Thus, strict measures must be taken to control and limit any RVF emergence and spread. Such measures must include control of animal movements (especially at borders), vector species control, and improving diagnosis tools for early detection of any suspected cases. The implementation of a multidisciplinary ‘One Health’ approach would be one of the best solutions to control vector-borne zoonotic diseases such as RVF.

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Affiliations

  • S. Mejri
    selma_mejri@yahoo.fr
    Laboratoire de virologie, Institut de la recherche vétérinaire de Tunisie, rue Djebel Lakhdhar, La Rabta 1006 Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisie. LR03ES03 Laboratoire microorganismes et bio-molécules actives, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1068, Tunisie

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2022-08-18

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2023-03-14

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2023-04-13

How to Cite

Mejri, S. (2023). Rift Valley fever in Tunisia: Review of the current situation and perspectives. Revue d’élevage Et De médecine vétérinaire Des Pays Tropicaux, 76, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.19182/remvt.36975

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Vol. 76 (2023)

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Animal health and epidemiology

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