The veterinary services directorate of the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development has recorded the first case of Rift Valley fever disease at Nooyions research farm, 12 km north of Potchefstroom.
The case was confirmed after samples from aborted foetuses were sent to Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) for testing and one of them confirmed positive for the disease. The affected farm will be vaccinated immediately to curb the spread of the disease.
The department will also undertake a prophylactic vaccination campaign to prevent the disease. The campaign will concentrate in the high risk areas of Taung, Mamusa and areas East of Christiana. The risk in those areas is increased by the recent floods and the course of water flow through the Bloemhof River into the Vaal River.
The directorate veterinary service is on the look-out for any sign that may indicate an outbreak of the disease in other areas. Members of the public are advised to contact the officials of the directorate veterinary services should sudden deaths in sheep and lambs and abortions be seen.
The farming community is also advised not to handle sick and aborted animals with bare hands as all material from such animals is highly infectious.
“We also advice the farming community to vaccinate with inactivated vaccine as live vaccine might have adverse effects especially on pregnant animals,” cautioned Dr Langa Madyibi, Director for Veterinary Services in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development (DACERD).
In the North West province, the disease could have been precipitated by recent high rainfall pattern during the months of January and February. During the dry years, the virus survives in mosquito eggs which can survive for a very long time in dry mud. Mosquitoes that hatch from such eggs during a wet season carry the virus and causes epidemics. Rift Valley fever (RVF) is acute viral zoonosis that primarily affects sheep. Goats and cattle can also be affected.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government
18 March 2010
Source: Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za/Agriculture/)
