Rift Valley Fever Early Warning Decision Support Tool (RVF DST)

The Rift Valley Fever Early Warning Decision Support Tool (RVF DST) is an innovative online platform developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to strengthen early warning, preparedness, and response to Rift Valley fever (RVF) — one of Africa’s most persistent zoonotic and climate-sensitive diseases.

Built under the One Health framework, the RVF DST enhances real-time monitoring, data sharing, and multi-sectoral collaboration between animal health, human health, and environmental sectors. By combining satellite data, climate trends, field surveillance, and expert analysis, the tool can predict RVF outbreaks up to three months in advance. This early insight enables farmers, veterinarians, and policymakers to take preventive action, protecting livestock, livelihoods, and lives before disease spreads.

The RVF DST helps countries move from reactive response to proactive prevention by turning data into early action. Its main objectives are to:

Identify potential RVF hotspots two to three months in advance using environmental and climate data.
Integrate real-time and historical information from FAO’s EMPRES-i platform to support informed decision-making.
Issue timely alerts in collaboration with partners to enable rapid preventive measures.
Strengthen systems for environmental surveillance, risk analysis, and early action planning at national and regional level under the One Health approach.

How the RVF DST works

Why it matters

RVF continues to threaten food security, trade, and public health across Africa. Outbreaks often follow heavy rains and flooding, devastating livestock herds and putting at risk communities that rely on them.

Timely prediction and early action are essential to reduce losses, prevent transmission, and save lives. The RVF DST bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and operational response, helping countries act before outbreaks occur rather than after they escalate.

Through better data integration, early alerts, and cross-sector collaboration, the tool supports more resilient health systems and promotes long-term One Health preparedness across the region.

Voices of impact

Find out more

Get started!

Discover the features of the RVF DST and how it supports real-time monitoring, data sharing, and multi-sectoral collaboration.

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Brochure

Read more and learn about FAO’s work to strengthen RVF preparedness, response and contingency plans.

Download

Alerts

Explore recent FAO Alerts on RVF to learn about risk assessments, forecasts and coordinated efforts to enhance preparedness.

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news

National workshop promotes integrated early warning for Rift Valley Fever in Tanzania

From 14 to 18 July 2025, a national workshop on the RVF DST was held in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, providing intensive, hands-on training on the tool’s structure, functionalities, and operational use.

publication

Rift Valley fever action framework

This RVF Action Framework is intended to provide decision makers with guidance on the best course of action to take in response to an RVF outbreak or the risk of an outbreak, and help them develop a national action plan for this response.

video

What you need to know about Rift Valley fever

This video explains the main transmission routes and clinical signs of RVF, and outlines key actions for its prevention and control.

Animal health