There is currently a decline in a number of laboratory confirmed new animal cases in South Africa and therefore human cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF). As the weather becomes cooler transmission is reduced.
The disease is generally seen on farms, and can also be found in areas where there is occasional informal slaughtering of infected animals. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes outbreaks of abortion and deaths of young livestock (sheep, goats and cattle). The disease occurs throughout Africa and Madagascar when exceptionally heavy rains favour the breeding of the mosquito vectors which transmits the infection to animals.
We would like to reassure the public that there is no human to human spread of RVF in South Africa. The disease is found in persons who have had direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals and the majority of people affected are farm and veterinary workers and abattoir workers.
The decrease in RVF infections is also attributed to the coordinated efforts of the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Fisheries in South Africa, supported by the South African Field Epidemiology and Training Programme (SA-FELTP) the National Institute of Communicable Diseases Laboratory, the Provincial Veterinary Services in South Africa, the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, the Onderstepoort Biological Products (Ltd), as well as the World Health Organisation.
These organisations have prioritised the following response measures:
* Laboratory, epidemiology and surveillance interventions (for diagnosis, case finding and investigation)
* Health promotion interventions
* Environmental health measures
* Management of confirmed cases
* Animal vaccination
Additional efforts have been made by the Department of Health to train volunteers from the Red Cross and so far 300 volunteers in Free State and 200 in the Northern Cape, have been identified for training to intensify health education and health promotion in order to prevent further incidents of RVF.
Animal vaccination programmes on farms and suspected areas have been instituted by the different Provincial Veterinary Services in the most affected areas, with assistance from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to protect livestock.
Visitors coming to South Africa for the FIFA World Cup are not at risk unless they handle infected animals or their body fluids, handle carcasses on farms or raw meat from infected animals, as well as consume un-pasteurised milk obtained from infected animals. It is highly unlikely that visitors would be involved in these activities.
The formal meat supply is well controlled and affected animals are excluded from the food chain in abattoirs. The eating of well-cooked meat poses no risk nor does the drinking of pasteurised milk. There is no risk to visitors to Game Parks, as the disease typically affects sheep, cattle and goats. Game animals are rarely affected by this disease.
Current Media reports indicate that a German tourist, who travelled to South Africa visiting farms in rural areas and game reserves along the coast of Eastern Cape and Western Cape, contracted Rift Valley Fever.
The exact mode of transmission is still being investigated by health authorities; however, positive animal cases have been identified in the visited areas. It should be noted that the risk of contracting this infection for tourists during the soccer world cup remains low, due to the approaching winter months when animal infections will be limited.
The Department of Health in South Africa re-emphasises its message to all persons both from and outside South Africa travelling to or residing in affected rural areas and farms to prevent contact with infected animals and prevent consuming their products such as meat and un-pasteurised milk, South Africa is looking forward to extending a warm welcome to the country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and to reassure visitors that everything will be done to ensure their safety and health.
Please visit the following websites http://www.nicd.ac.za or http://www.doh.gov.za for further information on the disease and the current outbreak.
Enquiries:
Fidel Hadebe
Cell: 079 517 3333
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: Department of Health
7 May 2010
