A study of 130 pregnant Sudanese women with Rift Valley fever suggests that the virus is linked to miscarriages in humans. Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-born infection with outbreaks in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Although it has been known to cause miscarriages and fatality in cattle, goats, and sheep, most human cases are characterized by flu-like symptoms.
In this cross-sectional study, pregnant women who presented at the governmental hospital of Port Sudan with fever of unknown origin were tested for a number of viruses that cause fever, and their medical records were reviewed. 54% of these women with acute Rift Valley fever virus infection had miscarriages compare to 12% of those negative for Rift Valley fever virus. On multivariate regression, Rift Valley fever virus infection was an independent predictor of having a miscarriage. This is the first study to link Rift Valley fever infection with miscarriages.
-Sally Tran
References:
Baudin M, Jumaa AM, Jomma HJE, Karsany MS, Bucht G, Naslund J, Ahlm C, Evander M, Mohamed N. "Association of River Valley fever virus infection with miscarriage in Sudanese women: a cross-sectional study." The Lancet Global Health. 2016 Nov; 4(11):864-871.
Umea University. "Mosquito-born Rift Valley fever virus causes miscarriage." ScienceDaily. 2016 Oct 3. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161003113242.html
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