Rift Valley fever outbreak with East-Central African virus lineage in Mauritania, 2003.

In October 2003, 9 human cases of hemorrhagic fever were reported in 3 provinces of Mauritania, West Africa. Test results showed acute Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) infection, and a field investigation found recent circulation of RVFV with a prevalence rate of 25.5% (25/98) and 4 deaths among the 25 laboratory-confirmed case-patients.

Rapid detection of important human pathogenic Phleboviruses.

Background: Rapid diagnostics are not available for several human pathogens in the genus Phlebovirus of the Bunyaviridae.

Objectives: To develop RT-PCR assays for Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV), Sandfly Fever Naples virus (SFNV), Toscana virus (TOSV) and Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV).

Study Design: RNA standards were generated and used to test the performance of the assays.