Risk factors for severe Rift Valley fever infection in Kenya, 2007.
A large Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak occurred in Kenya from December 2006 to March 2007. We conducted a study to define risk factors associated with infection and severe disease. A total of 861 individuals from 424 households were enrolled. Two hundred and two participants (23%) had serologic evidence of acute RVF infection. Of these, 52 (26%) had severe RVF disease characterized by hemorrhagic manifestations or death. Independent risk factors for acute RVF infection were consuming or handling products from sick animals (odds ratio [OR] = 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.78-3.61, population attributable risk percentage [PAR%] = 19%) and being a herds person (OR 1.77, 95% CI = 1.20-2.63, PAR% = 11%). Touching an aborted animal fetus was associated with severe RVF disease (OR = 3.83, 95% CI = 1.68-9.07, PAR% = 14%). Consuming or handling products from sick animals was associated with death (OR = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.07-12.64, PAR% = 47%). Exposures related to animal contact were associated with acute RVF infection, whereas exposures to mosquitoes were not independent risk factors.
Anyangu
Amwayi S
AS
Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya. amwayi2004@yahoo.com
Gould
L Hannah
LH
Sharif
Shahnaaz K
SK
Nguku
Patrick M
PM
Omolo
Jared O
JO
Mutonga
David
D
Rao
Carol Y
CY
Lederman
Edith R
ER
Schnabel
David
D
Paweska
Janusz T
JT
Katz
Mark
M
Hightower
Allen
A
Njenga
M Kariuki
MK
Feikin
Daniel R
DR
Breiman
Robert F
RF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000821:virology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral