Fears fever may spread
2010-04-01
AGRICULTURAL authorities fear the spread of the highly contagious Rift Valley Fever (RFV) to livestock in the Boland. Despite the strategic application of 40 000 doses of Rift Valley fever vaccine sponsored by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture in the Murraysburg district of the Karoo, RVF has spread to the Beaufort West district. The first cases were detected on the northern border with the Northern Cape Province where two Jersey cattle died acutely. On post mortem examination a haemorrhagic syndrome was evident. In the second case 12 young Merino lambs died acutely on a farm to tA TOTAL of ninety wine cellars are participating in the newly launched web based South African Supérieur Wine Rating Index (SASWRI) on a regular basis.</he east of Beaufort West. Their post mortem findings were typical for RVF. Samples from both these cases were found positive for RVF by the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute on Friday. Various other cases of deaths and abortions in the area are currently under investigation. The local State Veterinarian that conducted the post mortem examinations has presumably also become infected. His symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle aches and extreme eye pain with sensitivity to light. Blood samples have been taken to verify the cause of these symptoms. The vet is under medical supervision at home, his condition is stable. Western Cape Department of Health spokesperson, Helene Rossouw, said Tygerberg Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Unit is on standby. The Western Cape Department of Health has a contingency plan in place for communicable diseases such as Rift Valley Fever. “We expect the disease to extend in a westerly and south-westerly direction from Beaufort West. Areas in the Karoo with lush vegetation and large tracts of open water that favour the breeding of mosquitoes are deemed as high risk areas.” It is possible that the infection may spread to the winter rainfall areas of the Swartland and possibly also to the Southern Cape. Sheep and cattle farmers are advised not to let their stock graze in wet low-lying areas with large mosquito populations. The use of insecticidal and insect repellent remedies might be considered for valuable stock. As this is a viral disease, no specific treatment is available. Stock farmers are reminded that this is a Notifiable Animal Disease. For enquiries, contact 021-483-4700, 079-694-3085, or wouterkriel@gmail.com.
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