Designed for veterinarians and animal health professionals, this guide to effective disease surveillance aims to reduce the socioeconomic consequences of Rift Valley fever outbreaks and prevent them where possible.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an arboviral disease affecting humans and livestock transmitted by mosquitoes. It is endemic to large areas of Africa, resulting in widespread abortion and neonatal mortality in livestock, and severe complications in a small but significant percentage of human cases. The range of RVF is largely determined by the distribution of suitable vector habitat and rainfall, which changes over time and as a result of climate change. In addition to which, the movement of animals and animal products for trade may lead to the spread of RVF to previously non-infected areas. This RVF Action Framework is intended to provide decision makers with guidance on the best course of action to take in response to an RVF outbreak or the risk of an outbreak, and help them develop a national action plan for this response. A coordinated One Health approach that brings together the public, animal and environmental health sectors is recommended, as is a risk-based approach that uses risk assessment and mapping to determine the appropriate measures to be taken and the locations where they are required. A country’s RVF response can be best broken down into the four phases of the epidemiological cycle: the inter-epidemic, pre-epidemic, epidemic and post-epidemic periods. Surveillance, risk assessment and capacity building, for instance, are key during the inter-epidemic period, while the focus during the post-epidemic period shifts to mitigating the disease’s impact.

Satellite imagery and data are widely used in public health surveillance to provide early warning of disease outbreaks and for averting pandemics. Convergence of these technologies began in the 1970s and has gained wide acceptance in the 21st Century.Environmental Tracking for Public Health Surveillance focuses on the expanding use of satellite sen

In its simplest terms, public health experts define disease surveillance as the generation of "information for action." Infectious disease surveillance provides national and international public health authorities with information that they need to plan and manage efforts to control the diseases. In recent years, public health officials have expressed concern about the adequacy of the global framework for infectious disease surveillance. In 1995 both the World Health Assembly (the governing body of the World Health Organization) and the U.S. National Science and Technology Council determined that, in light of the global public health threat posed by infectious diseases, existing surveillance arrangements could not be considered adequate. Both organizations, for example, found serious deficiencies in the ability of health systems to diagnose infectious diseases and investigate their sources and modes of transmission. Since then, concern about the framework's capacity has increased as public dialogue has intensified on HIV/AlDS, West Nile fever, and other infectious disease threats to U.S. and global public health.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral animal disease which causes periodic severe epidemics, principally involving ruminant animals. As well as its severe socio-economic and public health consequences, this serious transboundary animal disease is a major constraint to international livestock trade. This manual provides information on the nature of RVF and options for its prevention, control and elimination. It outlines a suggested national RVF contingency plan, to be modified to suit the circumstances of individual countries, as well as identifying personnel, equipment and other facilities required.