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RVF outbreak in SA, Feb - May 2010. JOINT BRIEFING BY: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (DAFF) AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. Outline. Introduction RVF in South Africa Current outbreak National Response Provincial Response Challenges Recommendations. INTRODUCTION.
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RVF outbreak in SA, Feb - May 2010 JOINT BRIEFING BY: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES (DAFF) AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Outline Introduction RVF in South Africa Current outbreak National Response Provincial Response Challenges Recommendations
INTRODUCTION • RVF- Viral zoonosis that can cause severe disease in low proportion of infected humans • Virus transmitted by mosquitoes and causes outbreak of abortion and death of young livestock (sheep, goats, and cattle) • Humans infected from contact with infected animals • Disease occurs in Africa and Middle East Asia where exceptionally heavy rains favour breeding of mosquitoes vectors
RVF IN SOUTH AFRICA (i) • RVF was first reported in SA - 1950-1951 (100 000 died, 500 000 aborted) • Last major outbreak of RVF in SA -1974-1976 caused 10,000 to 20 000 human cases • Virus thought to be endemic in low lying coastal areas of KZN (small outbreak in dairy herd in Empangeni 1981) and Kruger National Park • Small outbreak occurred (abortions in captive bred buffaloes) in Skukuza, 1999
RVF IN SOUTH AFRICA (ii) • Fourteen Small outbreaks of RVF occurred in animals MP, LP, GP and NW in 2008 • RVF outbreak occurred on farms along Orange River, Northern Cape; two confirmed human cases November- December 2009
CURRENT OUTBREAK • 12 Feb.2010, RVF confirmed on 2 sheep farms in Bulfontein area, Free State • RVF outbreak confirmed in humans 24 Feb 2010 by Outbreak Response Unit, NICD • First confirmed Case; Vet surgeon based in Bloemfontein, has a farm in Winburg, does field visits to farmers in Free State did postmortem on dead lambs (specimen confirm RVF) at a farm 30km from Brandfort, Bulfontein • By 30 April: - farms with confirmed animal cases were reported in 7 provinces (except KZN, LP). - > 9000 animal cases with over 5000 deaths
CASE DEFINITION/ CRITERIA FOR LAB TESTING Any person with recent close contact with livestock in or from suspected RVF areas, presenting with: • Flu-like illness (may include fever, muscle ache, or headache) or • Fever and features of encephalitis, haemorrhage, hepatitis disease and/or occular pathology
Areas with human cases (i) (as of 11 May 2010) Province Cases Deaths Free State 108 9 Eastern Cape 13 0 Northern Cape 58 8 North West 3 0 Western Cape 3 1 Unknown 1 0 Total 186 19 Over 1200 samples tested to date (11 new cases reported last week)
Distribution of cases by District in Free State, 2010 (N = 103 with 18 missing information)
Epidemic curve of lab confirmed RVF cases by date of onset, 6 May 2010
Number of lab confirmed RVF cases by occupation, SA 3 May 2010
Case management • Most cases are mild, managed on outpatient basis (84%); 30 in-patients • Distribution of symptoms: majority presented with fever, muscle pains and headache
Response by DoH • Multisectoral National Outbreak Response (MNORT) team meets regularly – coordination of response • Support visits to provinces • Regular press releases, media interviews and situation reports being prepared. • All the Provincial Communicable Diseases Co-ordinators have been alerted, EPR guidelines and Health workers guidelines for management of RVF disseminated; • WHO providing additional technical support. • Follow up visit by MNORT to Free State and Northern Cape
Actions by Provincial DoH • Outbreak investigations by PDoH and DoA on-going supported by SA-FELTP and NICD • Alert and guidelines on RVF have been sent to all districts • Investigation of suspects • Health promotion and Media briefing
Key issues addressed • Strengthened notification of human cases and maintained regular reporting at all levels • Provincial Outbreak Response Teams implemented comprehensive action plans; • Need to strengthen Health promotion
CHALLENGES • Implementation of the communication strategy on prevention and control of RVF (e.g behavior change) • Voluntary vaccination of livestock • No vaccine available for humans • Early detection of the disease: - Most infections in humans asymptomatic - Most people experience flu like illnesses (acute on set of fever, headache, myalgia and photophobia) • No specific treatment • Rapid spread of infection due to environmental circumstances
Recommendations • Implementation of PoA and strengthen coordination of response at all levels • Additional resources needed to support the provinces • Application was made for additional funding • Strengthen health promotion and communication campaign in provinces