Modelling the effects of seasonality and socioeconomic impact on the transmission of rift valley Fever virus.

ABSTRACT: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an important mosquito-borne viral zoonosis in Africa and the Middle East that causes human deaths and significant economic losses due to huge incidences of death and abortion among infected livestock. Outbreaks of RVF are sporadic and associated with both seasonal and socioeconomic effects. Here we propose an almost periodic three-patch model to investigate the transmission dynamics of RVF virus (RVFV) among ruminants with spatial movements. Our findings indicate that, in Northeastern Africa, human activities, including those associated with the Eid al Adha feast, along with a combination of climatic factors such as rainfall level and hydrological variations, contribute to the transmission and dispersal of the disease pathogen. Moreover, sporadic outbreaks may oc

SUBMITTER: Xiao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4287488 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature