Rift valley fever: risk of introduction in Italy

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a serious disease transmitted by arthropods which strikes humans, and domestic and wild ruminants. The virus is widespread in Africa and has also recently been found in some areas of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Epidemic breeding grounds of RVF are particularly frequent in Africa and the Middle East, probably due to climatic and environmental conditions, and the increase in the commercial exchange of live animals. The probability of the introduction of the virus into Europe and of its diffusion on a large scale is considered to be low. Nevertheless, it is not possible to completely exclude the possibility that breeding grounds of the disease can appear, in particular, in the southern areas of Europe. If this happened, it is probable that human cases of the disease could be reported in particular categories at risk, such as breeders, veterinarians and butchers. Surveillance systems and diagnostic instruments are widely available but the instruments necessary for controlling the disease are limited; controlling the population of the vectors is an activity which is difficult to carry out, and vaccination is possible quickly and on a large scale only in ruminants. Furthermore, the current vaccines which can be used on animals have limited efficacy (inactivated vaccines) or can cause serious collateral effects (live attenuated vaccines). The most efficacious strategy for protecting Europe (and also the rest of the world) from the diffusion of RVF is the implementation of efficacious surveillance systems and programs for controlling the disease in endemic areas.