The Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform has injected to R2.4 million to swiftly respond to the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak.
Since the confirmation of the outbreak by state veterinarians in three farms, in Graaff-Reinet and Kei Mouth towards the end of January 2011.
A joint operations command committee comprised of department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Department of Health and the Amathole District Municipality was formed. This is in a bid to sharpen and trouble shoot in giving integrated support and awareness to the affected areas.
Consultation meetings with communal and commercial farmers have happened in January whilst awareness campaigns and livestock census are a continuous process.
550 000 doses of vaccine will cover the affected areas bordering the Kei River in Mnquma Municipality, mainly Centane, Mbhashe Municipality (adjacent to the Centane coastal area) and Ngqamakwe.
Confirmed fatalities - three sheep in Kei Mouth and two Hereford cows in Graaff-Reinet; the joint team is working around the clock to manage the outbreak.
|
Date |
Activity |
Area |
|
7 February 2011 |
Awareness |
Sotho |
|
|
|
Morgan’s Bay/ Kei Mouth |
|
|
|
Ngxingxolo |
|
|
|
Ncalukeni |
|
|
Vaccination |
Chefane |
|
|
Vaccination |
|
|
8 to 9 2011 |
Vaccination |
Sotho |
|
|
|
Morgan’s Bay, Kei Mouth |
|
|
|
Ngxingxolo |
|
|
|
Ncalukeni |
|
|
|
Chefane |
|
10 February 2011 |
Vaccination |
Slatsha |
|
11 February 2011 |
|
Belekumntana |
|
|
|
Mandela,Mzwini |
|
|
|
Mgrangxeni |
|
11Febraury 2011 |
Awareness |
Kwelerha |
The following control measures must be applied:
- Vaccination of all susceptible stock using a new needle for each animal.
- Immediate notification of all mortalities, abortions and illness to local animal health technicians or state veterinarian
- Carcasses must be disposed of by burning or burying
- Precautions must be taken when handling sick animals, fetuses or carcasses. Minimum protective clothing should include gloves, goggles, overalls and boots.
- Additional control measures should include weekly spraying of stock with fly and mosquito control remedy, moving of animals away from standing water and moving of animals to high altitude areas
Symptoms of infected animals include but not limited to high lamb, kid or calf mortality, abortions, bloody diarrhoea, nose bleeding, fever and deaths.
Humans can get affected through contact with blood and other body fluids from the infected animals. Meat from a sick animal must not be eaten.
For more information contact:
Yvonne Matsheketwa
Cell: 076 868 7257
