Leveraging early warning and risk-based surveillance to inform timely and cost-effective decisions

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease that affects both livestock and humans, with serious consequences for public health, food security, and livelihoods. Endemic in parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, outbreaks are often linked to climatic conditions that accelerate mosquito proliferation.

In recent weeks, RVF has re-emerged as a major concern in Senegal and Mauritania, with significant impacts on human and animal health and growing concern about potential spread within and beyond national borders. These developments underscore the critical need to strengthen preparedness, surveillance, and response across North and West Africa, while further highlighting the interconnectedness of animal and human health and the importance of coordinated One Health approaches.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Emergency Prevention System for Animal Health (EMPRES-AH), is supporting countries to reinforce systems for early warning detection, risk monitoring, and rapid outbreak response. To advance these efforts, FAO is hosting a two-part webinar series designed for veterinary services and animal health stakeholders across the region.

Objectives

• Provide the latest update on the RVF situation in West Africa.
• Introduce risk forecasting and early warning tools and approaches to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Share practical guidance on risk-based surveillance design, including vector and eco-epidemiological considerations.
• Review current RVF diagnostic methods and recent laboratory testing advances.
• Outline technical and operational support available from FAO and partners.

Watch the replay