title: Cross-sectional survey of Rift Valley fever virus exposure in Bodhei village located in a transitional coastal forest habitat in Lamu county, Kenya.
abstract: Few studies have focused on Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) transmission in less arid, transitional landscapes surrounding known high-risk regions. The objective of this study was to identify evidence of RVFV exposure in Bodhei Village in a forested area at the edge of the RVFV-epidemic Garissa region. In a household cluster-based survey conducted between epidemics in early 2006, 211 participants were enrolled. Overall seroprevalence for anti-RVFV was high (18%) and comparable with rates in the more arid, dense brush regions farther north. Seroprevalence of adults was 28%, whereas that of children was significantly lower (3%; P < 0.001); the youngest positive child was age 3 years. Males were more likely to be seropositive than females (25% versus 11%; P < 0.01), and animal husbandry activities (birthing, sheltering, and butchering) were strongly associated with seropositivity. The results confirm that significant RVFV transmission occurs outside of recognized high-risk areas and independent of known epidemic periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Office of Director of Health, Garissa County, Kenya; Department of Ophthalmology, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thika, Kenya; Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muiruri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Office of Director of Health, Garissa County, Kenya; Department of Ophthalmology, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thika, Kenya; Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ephantus W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kabiru
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Office of Director of Health, Garissa County, Kenya; Department of Ophthalmology, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thika, Kenya; Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Muchiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Office of Director of Health, Garissa County, Kenya; Department of Ophthalmology, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thika, Kenya; Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Office of Director of Health, Garissa County, Kenya; Department of Ophthalmology, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thika, Kenya; Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kagondu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Office of Director of Health, Garissa County, Kenya; Department of Ophthalmology, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thika, Kenya; Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: A Desirée
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: LaBeaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya; Office of Director of Health, Garissa County, Kenya; Department of Ophthalmology, Thika Level 5 Hospital, Ministry of Health, Thika, Kenya; Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio chk@cwru.edu.
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult