27 February 2009
There has been a confirmed case of Rift Valley Fever in cattle in the Ixopo
area of KwaZulu Natal. The outbreak remains localised and under very strict
monitoring and control.
The last cases of Rift Valley Fever in South Africa occurred in localized
areas of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West province, in 2008. This
mosquito borne disease has caused mortalities in livestock, in the recent past,
in the Rift Valley in Kenya and also in Tanzania.
Rift Valley Fever is transmissible to humans under specific conditions
(zoonosis) and transmission occurs through the handling of sick and dead
animals or aborted foetuses. The public is urged not to handle any sick or dead
animals (cattle, sheep or goats) and to contact their nearest veterinarian or
state veterinarian, should signs of disease (fever and abortions) be observed
in a herd or flock.
Vaccination of animals can prevent the disease but care must be taken as
vaccination could cause abortion in pregnant cattle, sheep and goats.
For further information contact:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Tel: 012 319 7317
Cell: 083 265 8728
Fax: 012 319 7858
E-mail: CCO@nda.agric.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
27 February 2009
