Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018

Introduction: Rift Valley Fever (RFV) is an acute vector-borne viral zoonotic notifiable disease primarily of domestic animals. It causes significant economic impacts among livestock producers and consumers. An outbreak of RVF occurred in May-June 2018; Marsabit reported positive cases in humans and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mathew Munyamaara Mutiiria, Peter Gatongi, Elvis Oyugis, Mathew Muturi, Athman Mwatondo, Bernard Chege, Juster Mungiiria
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: African Field Epidemiology Network 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://afenet-journal.org/socio-economic-burden-of-rift-valley-fever-outbreak-in-a-pastoralist-community-in-marsabit-county-kenya-2018/
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850044617923231744
author Mathew Munyamaara Mutiiria
Peter Gatongi
Elvis Oyugis
Mathew Muturi
Athman Mwatondo
Bernard Chege
Juster Mungiiria
author_facet Mathew Munyamaara Mutiiria
Peter Gatongi
Elvis Oyugis
Mathew Muturi
Athman Mwatondo
Bernard Chege
Juster Mungiiria
author_sort Mathew Munyamaara Mutiiria
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Rift Valley Fever (RFV) is an acute vector-borne viral zoonotic notifiable disease primarily of domestic animals. It causes significant economic impacts among livestock producers and consumers. An outbreak of RVF occurred in May-June 2018; Marsabit reported positive cases in humans and animals. The study described herd owners’ social demographic characteristics, estimated livestock mortality and quantified the direct and indirect monetary losses in Laisamis Sub-County. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from 384 households. Direct and indirect costs were estimated using the economic model as described in Velthuis et al. (2008). Descriptive statistics were used to describe social-demographic characteristics. Economic burden incurred was the outcome variable. Results: Majority of the respondents were females (67.2%). Total direct and indirect economic burden/losses were 1,970,000 USD, cattle recorded the highest financial loss at 42.3% (832,850 USD) through mortality. Stormy abortions were the most common syndrome reported at 382(99%).No routine livestock vaccination against RVF. Young herd owners were more likely to suffer economic losses compared to the aged (>60 years of age). Male herd owners and those with formal education were less likely to experience financial loss at (OR=0.42, p-value < 0.0001) than female herd owners. Conclusion: A higher economic burden was associated with the RVF outbreak in Laisamis, particularly among female-headed households of younger age groups. Men had less odds of experiencing a financial burden compared to women. There is a need to vaccinate animals against RVF at the local level to reduce economic losses associated with an outbreak.
format Article
id doaj-art-6abd35a5656346ee8e0ed3732bec6be5
institution DOAJ
issn 2664-2824
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher African Field Epidemiology Network
record_format Article
series Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
spelling doaj-art-6abd35a5656346ee8e0ed3732bec6be52025-08-20T02:54:54ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242025-07-0183https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-24-02002Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018Mathew Munyamaara Mutiiria0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1888-4663Peter Gatongi1Elvis Oyugis2Mathew Muturi3Athman Mwatondo4Bernard Chege5Juster Mungiiria6Moi University School of Public Health, Eldoret, Kenya; Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, MOH, Kenya; Zoonotic Diseases Unit (One Health office), KenyaMoi University School of Public Health, Eldoret, KenyaDivision of National Malaria Programme (DNMP), Ministry of Health, KenyaZoonotic Diseases Unit (One Health office), KenyaZoonotic Diseases Unit (One Health office), KenyaCounty Government of Marsabit, KenyaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Chuka University, Chuka, KenyaIntroduction: Rift Valley Fever (RFV) is an acute vector-borne viral zoonotic notifiable disease primarily of domestic animals. It causes significant economic impacts among livestock producers and consumers. An outbreak of RVF occurred in May-June 2018; Marsabit reported positive cases in humans and animals. The study described herd owners’ social demographic characteristics, estimated livestock mortality and quantified the direct and indirect monetary losses in Laisamis Sub-County. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from 384 households. Direct and indirect costs were estimated using the economic model as described in Velthuis et al. (2008). Descriptive statistics were used to describe social-demographic characteristics. Economic burden incurred was the outcome variable. Results: Majority of the respondents were females (67.2%). Total direct and indirect economic burden/losses were 1,970,000 USD, cattle recorded the highest financial loss at 42.3% (832,850 USD) through mortality. Stormy abortions were the most common syndrome reported at 382(99%).No routine livestock vaccination against RVF. Young herd owners were more likely to suffer economic losses compared to the aged (>60 years of age). Male herd owners and those with formal education were less likely to experience financial loss at (OR=0.42, p-value < 0.0001) than female herd owners. Conclusion: A higher economic burden was associated with the RVF outbreak in Laisamis, particularly among female-headed households of younger age groups. Men had less odds of experiencing a financial burden compared to women. There is a need to vaccinate animals against RVF at the local level to reduce economic losses associated with an outbreak.https://afenet-journal.org/socio-economic-burden-of-rift-valley-fever-outbreak-in-a-pastoralist-community-in-marsabit-county-kenya-2018/socioeconomic burdenrift valley fever outbreakdirect and indirect monetary lossesherd owners
spellingShingle Mathew Munyamaara Mutiiria
Peter Gatongi
Elvis Oyugis
Mathew Muturi
Athman Mwatondo
Bernard Chege
Juster Mungiiria
Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018
Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
socioeconomic burden
rift valley fever outbreak
direct and indirect monetary losses
herd owners
title Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018
title_full Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018
title_fullStr Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018
title_full_unstemmed Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018
title_short Socio-economic burden of Rift Valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in Marsabit County, Kenya, 2018
title_sort socio economic burden of rift valley fever outbreak in a pastoralist community in marsabit county kenya 2018
topic socioeconomic burden
rift valley fever outbreak
direct and indirect monetary losses
herd owners
url https://afenet-journal.org/socio-economic-burden-of-rift-valley-fever-outbreak-in-a-pastoralist-community-in-marsabit-county-kenya-2018/
work_keys_str_mv AT mathewmunyamaaramutiiria socioeconomicburdenofriftvalleyfeveroutbreakinapastoralistcommunityinmarsabitcountykenya2018
AT petergatongi socioeconomicburdenofriftvalleyfeveroutbreakinapastoralistcommunityinmarsabitcountykenya2018
AT elvisoyugis socioeconomicburdenofriftvalleyfeveroutbreakinapastoralistcommunityinmarsabitcountykenya2018
AT mathewmuturi socioeconomicburdenofriftvalleyfeveroutbreakinapastoralistcommunityinmarsabitcountykenya2018
AT athmanmwatondo socioeconomicburdenofriftvalleyfeveroutbreakinapastoralistcommunityinmarsabitcountykenya2018
AT bernardchege socioeconomicburdenofriftvalleyfeveroutbreakinapastoralistcommunityinmarsabitcountykenya2018
AT justermungiiria socioeconomicburdenofriftvalleyfeveroutbreakinapastoralistcommunityinmarsabitcountykenya2018