The above average rainfall seen in this past week spells an inevitable consequence of yet another Rift Valley fever outbreak. This persistent heavy rainfall causes the shallow water surfaces and/or water pans in the province to become flooded, which with warm weather conditions promote breeding of mosquitoes. Rift Valley fever is a viral disease of cattle, sheep and goats, characterised by deaths of newborn lams/calves and abortions in ewes/cows. A specific species of mosquitoes transmit this viral disease whilst feeding on these animals.
Human beings become infected from handling tissues or organs of diseased animals. The infection in humans in serious and is occasionally a life threat. It presents with severe muscle and joint pains, high fever, severe headaches, blurred vision as possible symptoms. According to Communicable Disease Communiqué which is a publication of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, the outbreak of this disease during 2010 resulted in a recording of a total of 232 human cases, 26 of which died from the disease following handling sick or dead animals.
Control of the disease in animals is through vaccination of animals as the only effective method to protect livestock; farmers are therefore advised to vaccinate their animals against Rift Valley fever annually. Control of mosquitoes through weekly dipping, use of insect repellent sprays or pour-ons e.t.c. offer some valuable input in the control of the disease. Rift Valley fever is a notifiable disease in terms of the Animal Disease Act, not a controlled disease. Therefore, it remains the responsibility of the animal owners to vaccinate their animals to prevent losses.
The general public is urged not to handle any sick animals or cut up any dead animals or aborted fetuses. Handling of sick or dead animals should be done whilst wearing protective clothing and protective goggles. Suspicion of the disease e.g. where newly born lambs/calves die in large numbers or abortions in pregnant sheep/cows are observed in a flock/herd, should be reported to the nearest State Vet Office.
The local State Veterinarian can be contacted on the following numbers:
Motheo District:
Bloemfontein 051 436 3677
Thaba’Nchu 051 875 1160
Xhariep District:
Fauresmith 051 723 0032
Smithfield 051 683 0083
Lejweleputswa District:
Welkom 057 916 6724
Hoopstad 053 444 1910
Thabo Mofutsanyana District:
Bethlehem 058 303 5579
QwaQwa 058 714 1430
Fezile Dabi District:
Sasolburg 016 976 2006
Kroonstad 056 212 3126
