Rift valley fever in the horn of Africa: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

The Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemic in the Horn of Africa region in 2007 resulted in significant mortality on a background of protracted political instability, famine, food insecurity and internal population displacement. Com - municable diseases such as RVF are difficult to contain in such a context with protracted civil war, statelessness, poor governance and constant population movement. A literature review was conducted to assess i) contributing factors to the latest RVF crisis and ii) emergency response. Within the review, the challenges and opportunities for future management were also identified. A range of geopolitical, socioeconomic and environmental barriers impeded the public hea..