“We do not bury dead livestock like human beings”: Community behaviors and risk of Rift Valley Fever virus infection in Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

BackgroundRift Valley Fever (RVF), is a viral zoonotic disease transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. In Kenya, its occurrence is associated with increased rains. In Baringo County, RVF was first reported in 2006–2007 resulting in 85 human cases and 5 human deaths, besides livestock losses and livelihood disruptions. This study sought to investigate the county’s current RVF risk status.Methodology and principal findingsA cross-sectional study on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of RVF was conducted through a mixed methods approach utilizing a questionnaire survey (n = 560) and 26 focus group discussions (n = 231). Results indicate that study participants had little knowledge of RVF causes, its signs and symptoms and transmission mechanisms to humans and livestock. However, most of them indicated that a person could be infected with zoonotic diseases through consumption of meat (79.2%) and milk (73.7%) or contact with blood (40%) from sick animals. There was a statistically significant relationship between being male and milking sick animals, consumption of milk from sick animals, consuming raw or cooked blood, slaughtering sick livestock or dead animals for consumption (all at p≤0.001), and handling sick livestock with bare hands (p = 0.025) with more men than women engaging in the risky practices. Only a few respondents relied on trained personnel or local experts to inspect meat for safety of consumption every time they slaughtered an animal at home. Sick livestock were treated using conventional and herbal medicines often without consulting veterinary officers.ConclusionsCommunities in Baringo County engage in behaviour that may increase their risk to RVF infections during an outbreak. The authors recommend community education to improve their response during outbreaks.

Cattle Farmers’ Perception of Reproductive Failures and Their Effects on Cattle Production in the North West Region of Cameroon

“…A study to assess the impact of zoonotic infections in selected regions of The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau indicated that cattle with hygroma, which is a typical symptom for brucellosis, are often not considered to be sick and milk is consumed without heat treatment (Unger and Munstermann, 2004). These results were however contrasting to those obtained from the study in Baringo County where majority of the survey respondents (91.5%), reported that they always boiled their milk before consumption and (62.4%) never consumed milk from sick livestock (Mutua et al 2017). Aborted fetuses were disposed of, with unprotected hands and sometimes the herdsmen help some cows having difficulties during calving, without wearing gloves.…”

“…Conversely, in Kenya 51% of the respondents ate meat from animals which died from sickness (Mutua et al, 2017). This is probably because of the believe that meat from dead or sick animals can be eaten following treatment with Warbugia ugandensis, Acacia tortilis, Acacia nubica, and Myrisine africana leaves and upon boiling with herbs from these tree species as it was the case in Baringo County in Kenya (Mutua et al, 2017). In yet another study carried out in Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau by Unger and Munstermann (2004), it was reported that a majority of participants consume meat from animals infected with brucellosis or tuberculosis after proper cooking or application of traditional treatment.…”

“…The results suggest that the proportion of respondents that eat meat from dead animals is low and significant (χ 2 = 62.7, P ≤ 0.001) across the divisions. Conversely, in Kenya 51% of the respondents ate meat from animals which died from sickness (Mutua et al, 2017). This is probably because of the believe that meat from dead or sick animals can be eaten following treatment with Warbugia ugandensis, Acacia tortilis, Acacia nubica, and Myrisine africana leaves and upon boiling with herbs from these tree species as it was the case in Baringo County in Kenya (Mutua et al, 2017).…”

Serological evidence of rift valley fever Phlebovirus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus infections among pygmies in the east region of Cameroon

“…Distinct agro-ecological profiles of the study areas and/or lifestyles of the population enrolled in the present and previous studies might have also been associated to the differential rates observed. Indeed, it has been suggested elsewhere that the risk of RVFV could vary greatly with respect to the communities and the professions considered [ 14 , 16 , 17 ]. In contrast to RVFV whose exposure rates were comparable among groups, the rate of CCHF IgG was relatively higher among individuals from Abong Mbang compared to those from other studied districts.…”

Vascular permeability in the brain is a late pathogenic event during Rift Valley fever virus encephalitis in rats

“…Neurological disease such as meningoencephalitis caused by RVFV leads to morbidity and mortality in people during human outbreaks and may pose a challenge for development of effective vaccines and therapeutics (Bird et al, 2012; Scharton et al, 2014). While RVF is a mosquito-transmitted disease, herdsmen, farmers, and other people living in close proximity to livestock or consuming animal products are at increased risk for infection and development of severe forms of RVF disease (Mutua et al, 2017; Nicholas et al, 2014). For individuals handling sick and dying animals, mucosal exposure of the eyes/nose/mouth or inhalation of virus from infected tissues may occur (Anyangu et al, 2010; Madani et al, 2003; Mutua et al, 2017).…”