Chapter 8.12.

Rift Valley fever

Article 8.12.1.

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, the infective period for Rift Valley fever (RVF) shall be 30 days.

For the purposes of this Chapter, ruminants include camels.

Standards for diagnostic tests are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

The historic distribution of RVF is the sub-Saharian African continent, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula.

Countries or zones within the historic distribution of RVF or adjacent to those that are historically infected should be subjected to surveillance.

Epidemics of RVF may occur in infected areas after flooding. They are separated by inter-epidemic periods that may last for several decades in arid areas and, during these periods, the prevalence of infection in humans, animals and mosquitoes can be difficult to detect.

In the absence of clinical disease, the RVF status of a country or zone within the historically infected regions of the world should be determined by a surveillance programme (carried out in accordance with Chapter 1.4.) focusing on mosquitoes and serology of susceptible mammals. The programme should concentrate on parts of the country or zone at high risk because of historical, geographic and climatic factors, ruminant and mosquito population distribution, and proximity to areas where epidemics have recently occurred.

Article 8.12.2.

A country or a zone may be considered free from RVF infection when the disease is notifiable in animals throughout the country and either:

1. the country or zone lies outside the historically infected regions, and not adjacent to historically infections; or

2. a surveillance programme as described in Article 8.12.1. has demonstrated no evidence of RVF infection in humans, animals or mosquitoes in the country or zone during the past 4 years following a RVF epidemic.

The provisions of the last paragraph of Article 8.12.1. may need to be complied with on a continuous basis in order to maintain freedom from infection, depending on the geographical location of the country or zone.

A RVF infection free country or zone in which surveillance and monitoring has found no evidence that RVF infection is present will not lose its free status through the importation of permanently marked seropositive animals or those destined for direct slaughter.

Article 8.12.3.

A RVF disease free country or zone is a country or zone that is not infection free (see Article 8.12.2.) but in which disease has not occurred in humans or animals in the past 6 months provided that climatic changes predisposing to outbreaks of RVF have not occurred during this time.

Article 8.12.4.

A RVF infected country or zone with disease is one in which clinical disease in humans or animals has occurred within the past 6 months.

Article 8.12.5.

Commodities other than those listed below are not considered to have the potential to spread RVF when they are the subject of international trade.

Veterinary Authorities of countries shall consider whether there is a risk with regard to RVF infection in accepting importation or transit through their territory from other countries of the following commodities:

1. live ruminants;

2. meat and meat products of domestic and wild ruminants.

Article 8.12.6.

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. were kept in a RVF free country or zone since birth or for at least 30 days prior to shipment; and

2. if the animals were exported from a free zone, either:

   1. did not transit through an infected zone during transportation to the place of shipment; or

   2. were protected from mosquito attack at all times when transiting through an infected zone.

Article 8.12.7.

for meat and meat products of domestic and wild ruminants

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the products are derived from animals which remained in the RVF infection free country/free zone since birth or for the last 30 days.

Article 8.12.8.

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no evidence of RFV on the day of shipment;

2. were kept in a RVF infected country/zone free of disease since birth or for the last 6 months providing that climatic changes predisposing to outbreaks of RVF have not occurred during this time;

OR

3. were vaccinated against RVF at least 21 days prior to shipment with a modified live virus vaccine;

OR

4. were held in a mosquito-proof quarantine station for at least 30 days prior to shipment during which the animals showed no clinical signs of RVF and were protected from mosquitoes between quarantine and the place of shipment as well as at the place of shipment;

AND

5. did not transit through an infected zone with disease during transportation of the place of shipment.

Article 8.12.9.

for meat and meat products of domestic and wild ruminants

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that:

1. the products are derived from animals which:

   1. remained in the RVF disease free country/zone since birth or for the last 30 days;

   2. were slaughtered in an approved abattoir and were subjected to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections for RVF with favourable results;

2. the carcasses from which the products were derived were submitted to maturation at a temperature above +2°C for a minimum period of 24 hours following slaughter.

Article 8.12.10.

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no evidence of RVF on the day of shipment;

2. were vaccinated against RVF at least 21 days prior to shipment with a modified live virus vaccine;

OR

3. were held in a mosquito-proof quarantine station for at least 30 days prior to shipment during which the animals showed no clinical signs of RVF and were protected from mosquito attack between quarantine and the place of shipment as well as at the place of shipment.

Article 8.12.11.

for meat and meat products of domestic and wild ruminants

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the carcasses:

1. are from animals which have been slaughtered in an approved abattoir and have been subjected to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections for RVF with favourable results; and

2. have been fully eviscerated and submitted to maturation at a temperature above +2°C for a minimum period of 24 hours following slaughter.

Article 8.12.12.

Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the donor animals:

1. showed no evidence of RVF within the period from 28 days prior to 28 days following collection of the embryos;

2. were vaccinated against RVF at least 21 days prior to collection with a modified live virus vaccine;

OR

3. were serologically tested on the day of collection and at least 14 days following collection and showed no significant rise in titre.