1 Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Appliquée (LBMA), Faculté de Pharmacie, Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Mali.
2 Unité des Virus Émergents (UVE: Aix-Marseille Univ – IRD 190 – Inserm 1207 – IHU Méditerranée Infection), Marseille, France.
3 Direction Régionale de la Santé de Tombouctou, Mali.
4 Hôpital NIANAKORO FOMBA de Ségou, Mali.
5 Infirmerie de Génie Militaire, Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées, Bamako, Mali.
6 Universités des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologie de Bamako, Mali.
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 24(02), 266-273
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2025.24.2.0997
Received on 29 September 2025; revised on 05 November 2025; accepted on 08 November 2025
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease with a human mortality rate of up to 50%. Its prevalence in cattle in Timbuktu, in northern Mali, has been estimated at 10%. In this region, close contact between humans and animals increases the likelihood of exposure to the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). Despite this potential risk, no human epidemic has been reported in Timbuktu to date.
To address this gap, we conducted a population-based study to estimate the seroprevalence of RVF in five districts of the Timbuktu region. Using the competitive ELISA technique, we found an overall human seroprevalence of RVF of 10.7% (95% CI: 8.8% - 12.8%) among 983 volunteers, closely like seroprevalence observed in cattle. These findings clearly demonstrated the circulation of the RVFV in the human population in all districts of the Timbuktu region and highlight the need to strengthen public health strategies to better prepare for potential future outbreaks.
Seroprevalence; Rift Valley Fever; Timbuktu; Mali
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Issa DIARRA, Abdourahamane TRAORE, Nazli AYHAN, Laurence THIRION, Mady CISSOKO, Seydou ARAMA, Moussa Hama SANKARE, Mouhamed THIERO, Bakary KOITA, Ami DIAKITE, Adama CISSE, Ousmane MAIGA and Xavier de Lamballerie. Human seroprevalence of rift valley fever in the Timbuktu region, Mali, 2021. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2025, 24(02), 266-273. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2025.24.2.0997.