FAO and IGAD warn of urgent need to strengthen Rift Valley Fever preparedness in eastern Africa
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Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a vector-borne viral disease endemic to East Africa, posing risks to human health, animals, and livestock. Its complex nature makes monitoring and control difficult. To improve management, FAO developed a web-based Early Warning Decision Support Tool (RVF DST) that uses environmental data to forecast the risk of RVF occurence. In partnership with IGAD, FAO issues alerts to vulnerable countries. Between February and May 2025, above-average rainfall and flooding affected several countries, including Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Wetter-than-normal conditions are forecasted through August 2025, increasing the suitability for RVF vectors across East Africa, especially in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, and Eritrea. FAO and IGAD are calling on these countries to boost awareness, enhance preparedness, and protect vulnerable communities, livestock, and livelihoods. Strengthening coordination between public health and environmental services is essential to managing ongoing RVF occurrence risks.