1 in 6 dromedary camels in Africa carries Rift Valley Fever antibodies

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral, mosquito-borne disease affecting livestock, including camels, and humans. The virus, belonging to the genus Phlebovirus, is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes of the genera Aedes and Culex, which act as both reservoirs and vectors, facilitating viral spread during outbreaks. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of RVF epidemiology in camels across Africa from 1977 to 2025, estimate the true seroprevalence, and assess potential risk factors associated with infection. Following PRISMA guidelines, an exhaustive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and ScienceDirect was conducted. A total of 34 eligible studies, encompassing 7444 camels from 11 African countries, were included. The overall pooled seroprevalence was 17.25% (1316/7444; 95% CI: 11.82-23.43%), with the highest rates reported in Somalia (73.4%), Niger (36.6%), and Mauritania (32.2%). Seroprevalence differed significantly between countries and age groups (p < 0.0001), with adult camels exhibiting higher rates than younger animals. No significant differences were observed with respect to sex, health status, origin, sample size, or diagnostic method. Temporal analyses revealed fluctuating prevalence over decades, reflecting periodic epizootics and vector activity. Despite the limited number of studies focusing on camels, these findings provide critical insights for public and animal health authorities to develop evidence-based RVF control strategies, including vaccination, vector management, and movement control. Further entomo-epidemiological studies are strongly recommended to enhance understanding of RVF transmission dynamics and support targeted surveillance. This review highlights the role of camels as sentinel species for RVF circulation in Africa and underscores the need for integrated One Health approaches to mitigate both animal and human infection risks.