Current status of rift valley fever vaccine development

Authors: FABURAY, BONTO - Kansas State University; LABEAUD, ANGELLE - Stanford University; McVey, David; Wilson, William - Bill; RICHT, JUERGEN - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2017
Publication Date: 9/19/2017
Citation: Faburay, B., Labeaud, A., McVey, D.S., Wilson, W.C., Richt, J. 2017. Current status of rift valley fever vaccine development. Popular Publication. 5(3):29. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines5030029.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines5030029

Interpretive Summary: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that presents substantial threat to human and public health. It is caused by a virus, RVFV, that has wide distribution of mosquitoes capable of virus transmission in non-endemic areas. That coupled with global climate change poses significant threat of across country border spread of RVFV. In the last decade, improved understanding of the molecular biology of RVFV facilitated significant progress in the development of novel vaccines including DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) vaccines. Despite these advances, there is no fully licensed vaccine for veterinary or human use available in non-endemic countries, whereas in endemic countries there is no clear policy or practice of routine/strategic livestock vaccination as a preventive or mitigating strategy against potential RVF disease outbreaks. The purpose of this review was to provide an update on the status of RVF vaccine development and provide perspectives on the best strategies for disease control. Herein, we argue that routine or strategic vaccination of livestock could be the best control approach by preventing future disease outbreaks and spread.

Technical Abstract: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that presents substantial threat to human and public health. It is caused by Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV), which belongs to the genus Phlebovirus and the family Pheuniviridae within the order Bunyavirales. The wide distribution of competent vectors in non-endemic areas coupled with global climate change poses significant threat of transboundary spread of RVFV. In the last decade, improved understanding of the molecular biology of RVFV facilitated significant progress in the development of novel vaccines including DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) vaccines. Despite these advances, there is no fully licensed vaccine for veterinary or human use available in non-endemic countries, whereas in endemic countries there is no clear policy or practice of routine/strategic livestock vaccination as a preventive or mitigating strategy against potential RVF disease outbreaks. The purpose of this review was to provide an update on the status of RVF vaccine development and provide perspectives on the best strategies for disease control. Herein, we argue that routine or strategic vaccination of livestock could be the best control approach by preventing future disease outbreaks and spread.