title: Risk factors associated with human Rift Valley fever infection: systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify risk factors for human Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review identified 17 articles reporting on 16 studies examining risk factors for RVFV. Pooled odds ratios (pOR) were calculated for exposures examined in four or more studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Being male [pOR = 1.4 (1.0, 1.8)], contact with aborted animal tissue [pOR = 3.4 (1.6, 7.3)], birthing an animal [pOR = 3.2 (2.4, 4.2)], skinning an animal [pOR = 2.5 (1.9, 3.2)], slaughtering an animal [pOR = 2.4 (1.4, 4.1)] and drinking raw milk [pOR = 1.8 (1.2, 2.6)] were significantly associated with RVF infection after meta-analysis. Other potential risk factors include sheltering animals in the home and milking an animal, which may both involve contact with animal body fluids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the identified risk factors, use of personal protective equipment and disinfectants by animal handlers may help reduce RVFV transmission during outbreaks. Milk pasteurisation and other possible preventive methods require further investigation.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Nigel M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus
keywords: Fiebre del Valle de Rift; Rift Valley fever; facteurs de risque; factores de riesgo; fièvre de la Vallée du Rift; meta-analysis; revisión sistemática; meta-análisis; revue systématique; méta-analyse; risk factors; systematic review