An Entomological Investigation during a Recent Rift Valley Fever Epizootic/Epidemic Reveals New Aspects of the Vectorial Transmission of the Virus in Madagascar.

A Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak occurred in at least five regions of Madagascar in 2021. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the richness, abundance, ecology, and trophic preferences of mosquitoes in the Mananjary district and to investigate the distribution of mosquitoes that were RT-PCR-positive for RVFV. Three localities were prospected from 26 April to 4 May 2021, using light traps, BG-Sentinel traps baited with an artificial human odor, Muirhead-Thomson pit traps, and indoor pyrethroid spray catches.

A multi-country phase 2 study to evaluate the suitcase lab for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 in seven Sub-Saharan African countries: Lessons from the field.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to severe health systems collapse, as well as logistics and supply delivery shortages across sectors. Delivery of PCR related healthcare supplies continue to be hindered. There is the need for a rapid and accessible SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection method in low resource settings.

Dried-blood spots: a cost-effective field method for the detection of Chikungunya virus circulation in remote areas.

Background: In 2005, there were outbreaks of febrile polyarthritis due to Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in the Comoros Islands. CHIKV then spread to other islands in the Indian Ocean: La Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar. These outbreaks revealed the lack of surveillance and preparedness of Madagascar and other countries.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever serosurvey in at-risk professionals, Madagascar, 2008 and 2009.

Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic arboviral infection with hemorrhagic manifestation and often a fatal ending. Human become infected mainly through tick bite or by crushing infected tick, by contact with blood or tissues from viraemic livestock or patient. CCHF virus (CCHFV) has been isolated once in Madagascar but data on the epidemiology of the disease in the country are very scarce.

Rift Valley fever during rainy seasons, Madagascar, 2008 and 2009.

During 2 successive rainy seasons, January 2008 through May 2008 and November 2008 through March 2009, Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) caused outbreaks in Madagascar. Human and animal infections were confirmed on the northern and southern coasts and in the central highlands. Analysis of partial sequences from RVFV strains showed that all were similar to the strains circulating in Kenya during 2006-2007.