South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

[Giuseppe]

Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

The outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in the Free State is out of control. The Lejweleputswa district in the Free State province is the hardest hit with 1200 livestock having already died and hundreds of pregnant animals aborting their young.

[See more at SABC online: View Original Article ]

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

SOUTH AFRICA: Rift Valley Fever reported in two provinces


JOHANNESBURG, 9 March 2010 (IRIN) - An outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in two South African provinces has killed one person, while five others have tested positive for the disease, which has also caused "extensive livestock deaths", the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), said in a statement on 9 March.

As of 4 March 2010, the livestock disease - which can be transmitted to humans by handling infected animal tissue during butchering - had been reported on 14 farms in Free State and one farm in the neighbouring province of Northern Cape.

Initial estimates by veterinarians in the affected region are that more than 1,000 livestock have perished. High mortality rates are experienced among young animals and the disease causes pregnancies to be aborted.

Full article:

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=88367

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.webnewswire.com/node/514260

RiftI Valley Fever continues to spread in Free State
Submitted by editor on March 14, 2010 - 10:30

A total of 20 human cases of Rift Valley Fever (RFV) have been confirmed by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) a further increase of 13 cases since the last report on Sunday 8 March 2010.

The first case was reported on 13 February 2010. To date, 19 human cases are in Free State with one death and one case is in Northern Cape.

Most of these cases reported direct contact with RVF-infected livestock and or linked to farms with confirmed animal cases of RVF. The human cases are; farmers, veterinarians and farm workers. Additional suspect cases are currently being tested...

...An ongoing outbreak of RVF affecting sheep, goats and cattle on farms is also spreading within the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.news24.com/Content/South...5-03-2010-10-26/RVF_claims_another_life_in_FS

RVF claims another life in FS
2010-03-15 22:26

Bloemfontein - The number of people killed in the Free State since the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has risen to two, health officials said on Monday.

"A total of 21 human... cases of Rift Valley Fever have been confirmed, all acquired in Free State, with two deaths," Deputy Minister of Health Molefi Sefularo said in a statement.

The department said most of the cases followed direct contact with RVF-infected livestock. The human cases were farmers, veterinarians and farm workers.

Sefularo said additional suspect cases were currently being tested.

On Monday, agricultural officials in the Northern Cape announced they were awaiting RVF test results from four districts.

"The Northern Cape provincial government has embarked upon an all-out-effort to foil the current outbreak of RVF," agriculture MEC Norman Shushu said in a statement.

33 dead lambs

Shushu said one farm in the Colesberg area reported a confirmed case of RVF with four cattle dead, out of 14 that took ill.

Suspected cases had also emerged around farms near Richmond, Carnavon -where one reported 30 dead lambs - Prieska and Douglas where farmers had reported livestock mortalities.

"Samples were collected and we are awaiting the results thereof."

Shushu said the Northern Cape has had no confirmed human cases. A suspected case in Colesberg tested negative.

Provincial veterinary services would update the Red Meat Producers Organisation in the Northern Cape and the National African Farmers' Union on the sickness on Monday.

The provincial agriculture and health departments would launch a public awareness campaign on RVF.
Shushu urged farmers in the affected areas to immediately vaccinate their animals and avoid opening carcasses they suspected died from RVF.

Heavy rainfall

In 2009, the Northern Cape veterinary services reacted to an outbreak of RVF in the Kakamas area.

Some 5 000 doses of vaccine were used to contain the disease at the time.

This year RVF was reported in the Free State after heavy rainfall countrywide in January and February.

The province reported high mortalities in lambs and abortions in sheep in the Bultfontein district, as well as parts of Boshoff and Jacobsdal.

In the Eastern Cape the disease was also reported in the Hofmeyer area.

Rift Valley Fever is caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes amongst sheep, cattle and goats. People can get RVF through contact with the blood or other body fluids of infected animals.


- SAPA

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

South Africa: Rift Valley Fever Update - a Total of 21 Cases Have Been Confirmed
15 March 2010

press release

The following is a statement by Deputy Minister of Health Dr Molefi Sefularo, MP, pertaining to the recent deaths from Rift Valley Fever in South Africa.

As of 15 March 2010, a total of 21 human laboratory confirmed cases of River Valley Fever (RVF) have been confirmed - all acquired in Free State - with two deaths. This brings a total to 22 human cases of RVF - with one in Northern Cape.

Most of these cases reported direct contact with RVF-infected livestock and or linked to farms with confirmed animal cases of RVF. The human cases are; farmers, veterinarians and farm workers. Additional suspect cases are currently being tested.

Outbreak investigations by the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are ongoing, and are being supported by the South African Field Epidemiology and Training Programme (SA-FELTP) and NICD.

While there is no specific treatment, the majority of persons affected will recover completely. People should avoid contact with the tissues of infected animals, refrain from drinking unpasteurised milk and prevent mosquito bites to avoid becoming infected. Farmers and veterinarians should wear protective clothing when handling sick animals or their tissues. There is no routine vaccine available for humans.

An ongoing outbreak of RVF affecting sheep, goats and cattle on farms is also spreading within the Free State, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape Provinces.

Affected farms are primarily clustered within Free State (initially in Lejweleputswa District, Bultfontein area). However, animal cases of RVF have been confirmed in all districts with spill over into Eastern Cape and Northern Cape.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral disease that can cause severe disease in a low proportion of infected humans.

The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes outbreaks of abortion and deaths of young livestock (sheep, goats and cattle). Humans become infected from contact with infected tissues of livestock and less frequently from mosquito bites. In sub-Saharan Africa the mosquitoes which transmit the virus do not enter human dwellings but feed on livestock outdoors at night. The disease occurs throughout Africa and Madagascar when exceptionally heavy rains favour the breeding of the mosquito vectors.

Clinical features in humans

Typically illness is asymptomatic or mild in the vast majority of infected persons, and severe disease would be expected to occur in less than 1% of infected persons.

Key symptoms:

The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) for RVF varies from two to six days.

Sudden onset of flu-like fever and/or muscle pain.

Some patients develop neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, loss of appetite and vomiting.

Symptoms of RVF usually last from four to seven days, after which time the immune response becomes detectable with the appearance of antibodies and the virus gradually disappears from the blood.

Severe form of RVF in humans includes:

? Vision disturbances

? Intense headache, loss of memory, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, vertigo, convulsions, lethargy and coma and;

? Haemorrhagic Fever

The public living in the affected areas is encouraged to seek medical attention at their nearest

Health facilities, should they have any of the above symptoms.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201003151736.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Virus kills livestock in EC


2010/03/17
STATE vets believe any number of people in the Eastern Cape could have contracted the Rift Valley fever virus, which has already killed over 200 livestock in the province.


The virus broke out in Middleburg and Hofmeyr after spreading from the Free State, where human fatalities have been recorded. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes.
State veterinarians from the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department have confirmed the presence of the virus in these areas, which fall under Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM).
Frantic attempts had been made to vaccinate animals on affected farms and samples were taken from neighbouring farms.
The virus first broke out in the Free State and has reportedly killed two people there.
Yesterday, CHDM veterinary services manager Dr Ncedeka Ndzamela said it was difficult to verify the exact numbers, if any, of infected people at this stage.
She said these people could have been infected by having had contact with animals. ?It is possible that people can also be infected by mosquito bites,? she said.
Ndzamela said there had been no reported cases of human infection in nearby towns at present. ?We have sent notice of quarantine to affected farms not to move their animals. We also sent them control measures and instructed them not to open carcasses and allow animals to drink stagnant water.
?We have been doing vaccinations to induce immunity to put the virus under control,? she said.
The quarantine notice tells farmers they would need written approval from a State veterinarian to move livestock.
Provincial Health Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said there were no reported fatalities in the province.
?We urge farmers to ensure that they put on protective clothing whenever in contact with their animals. They must also (be vigilant and) avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that might contribute to a spread,? he said.
Kupelo said people shouldn?t panic when confronted with flu-like symptoms. ?We are going to monitor the situation closely with the Department of Agriculture,? he said.
Provincial Agriculture spokesperson Yvonne Matsheketwa said even though the virus was not airborne, people should use gloves, goggles, overalls and boots when they come into contact with animals.
Slaughtering, butchering, assisting with animal births, conducting veterinary procedures and disposal of carcasses or foetuses could cause infections. She said symptoms of infections in humans were a mild illness with fever, vomiting, headache, and painful muscles and joints.
A total of 5 935 pregnant ewes were vaccinated on the Grootdam, Beaconsfiled, Blaauwskop, Hillston, Helpmaker, Fortuinplaas and Wolwekop farms. About 353 sheep and 88 goats in Middleburg and 154 sheep and 300 goats in Hofmeyer have been vaccinated. State vets advised that vaccination of stock be conducted under their supervision using a new needle for each animal.
They have advised that mortalities, abortions or any illness be reported to them immediately and carcasses be disposed of by burning or burying them. A weekly spraying of stock should also be undertaken. ? By MSINDISI FENGU, msindisif@dispatch.co.za

http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=387945

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.news24.com/Content/South...18-03-2010-01-16/Rift_Valley_Fever_cases_rise


Rift Valley Fever cases rise
2010-03-18 13:16

Bloemfontein ? There are 32 confirmed cases of people infected with Rift Valley Fever (RVF) while two people have died since the outbreak, the Department of Health said on Thursday.

Deputy Minister of Health Molefi Sefularo said the National Institute of Communicable Diseases confirmed 31 cases of RVF in the Free State, with two deaths, and one RVF case in the Northern Cape.

Laboratory tests had confirmed two cases of Congo Fever in the two provinces.

"Two cases of Congo Fever, one in Free State and one in Northern Cape, have also been confirmed," Sefularo said...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/10/10031912051004

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 19 Mar 2010
Title: Seven new RVF human cases confirmed
--------------------

Pretoria - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases has confirmed seven new human laboratory cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF). This pushes up the number of confirmed cases to 39.

Cases of RVF, which have been confined to the Free State and Northern Cape provinces since the first human laboratory case was confirmed on 13 February, have now spread to the Eastern Cape.

Of the confirmed cases, 34 are in the Free State, three in the Eastern Cape and two in the Northern Cape...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Rift Valley fever hitting farmers

Organised agriculture calls for state aid

Mar 22, 2010 11:44 PM | By NKOSANA LEKOTJOLO AND ZANDILE MBABELA


<HR class=space>Farmers have begun to count their losses as Rift Valley fever spreads. It has killed two people and infected 42, and has sickened livestock nationally.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases yesterday confirmed that, since the outbreak of the disease last month, two people have died and 37 have been infected in the Free State. Three have been infected in Eastern Cape and two in Northern Cape after contact with infected livestock.

Theo de Jager, deputy president of farmers' organisation AgriSA, said yesterday that the outbreak had caught farmers by surprise and had put an extra financial burden on them after the recent spate of fires.

"Many emerging farmers won't make it. It will affect meat and wool production significantly. We have to turn to the government for assistance," he said.

Affected farmers would need immediate aid, including finance and medication.

[...]

Read more at:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article368343.ece

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

S. Africa Halts Some China Wool Exports on Rift Valley Outbreak

By Carli Lourens

March 23 (Bloomberg) -- South Africa, the world?s third- biggest producer of wool used to make clothes, has stopped some exports of the yarn to China, its biggest customer, after an outbreak of Rift Valley fever infected sheep flocks in five provinces.

The halt of exports from some of the affected areas after the outbreak of the disease last month could cost producers 35 million rand ($4.8 million) of sales this season, Cape Wools SA, a Port Elizabeth-based sheep-farmers group, said.

China accounts for about 60 percent of the wool exports from South Africa, which was the first country to farm Merino sheep for wool outside Europe with the animals initially arriving in the country in 1879. The industry supports as many as 18,000 farmers who have a sheep flock of 14 million and produce about 50 million kilograms (110 million pounds) of wool annually.

?There has to be negotiations before we can export from those areas to China again,? Ona Viljoen, a spokeswoman for Cape Wools, said from Port Elizabeth, the largest city in the Eastern Cape, the country?s biggest wool-producing province. South Africa will start formal talks with China to try and restart shipments, Viljoen said. Exports to other countries are unaffected, she said.

While China is a signatory to a World Organisation for Animal Health protocol that stipulates that wool imports are not subject to Rift Valley fever curbs, the country?s documentation still blocks imports from affected areas, Viljoen said.
...
Much more at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20602013&sid=aO7Lf7jvw5ps

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=125&art_id=nw20100324114254884C312330

Five new human cases of Rift Valley Fever
March 24 2010 at 12:01PM

Forty-seven people had confirmed cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) by Wednesday, while the disease amongst livestock has spread to the North West province.

Ministry of health spokeswoman Charity Bhengu said the five new cases were reported by the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD).

The Free State has the most confirmed cases with 41, while there were three in the Eastern Cape and three in the Northern Cape.

Two people had died due to the sickness in the Free State since the outbreak amongst livestock in February this year.

Bhengu said most of the cases followed direct contact with RVF-infected livestock or could be linked to farms with confirmed animal cases of RVF...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/10/10032513251001

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 25 Mar 2010
Title: More RVF cases reported
--------------------


Pretoria - The number of people infected with Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has increased to 52 with five more cases confirmed yesterday.

The National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) reported that of the 52 cases of infected people, 46 cases and two deaths are from the Free State, three in the Eastern Cape and three in the Northern Cape said the Department of Health.

Outbreak investigations by the Departments of Health and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are ongoing, supported by the South African Field Epidemiology and Training Programme (SA-FELTP) and NICD.

The NICD confirmed that animal cases have now spread to the North West.

Affected farms are primarily within the Free State Province, however, animal cases of RVF have been confirmed in all districts with spill over into the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape and Gauteng...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article376492.ece/3-more-infected-with-rift-valley-fever

3 more infected with rift valley fever
Mar 27, 2010 11:32 AM | By Sapa

Three more people have been infected with Rift Valley Fever (RVF), bringing the total to 63 of laboratory confirmed human cases, the department of health said.

Spokeswoman Charity Bhengu said of the 63 cases of infected people, 54 cases and two deaths were from Free State, four in Eastern Cape and five in Northern Cape...

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Rift Valley Fever risk



Mar 28, 2010 10:39 PM | By SALLY EVANS


<HR class=space>Winter frosts may be the answer to farmers' fears as the outbreak of deadly Rift Valley Fever - which has killed two people and infected 63 - continues to spread across South Africa.


Agri SA president Johannes Moller told The Times that, despite the "seriousness" of the epidemic, "the May frosts should help the virus die off".

Since the outbreak of the viral epidemic, which is spread to livestock by mosquitos after heavy rains, has caused the deaths of two men in the Free State since February. An additional 54 people contracted the disease in the Free State, four were infected in the Eastern Cape and five in the Northern Cape, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases said. The infected were described as farmers, veterinarians and farm workers, the department of health said.

Over 50000 head of livestock are suspected of having contracted the disease, the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said.
M?ller said that because the virus did not occur regularly in South Africa - the last major outbreak was between 1974 and 1976 - "it usually catches us unawares, because South Africa is normally too dry for the virus to survive".

"Even though it is spreading, it is not a major national threat and we should be able to contain it within two or three weeks," M?ller said.

However, he said, the virus does "spread like wildfire once it starts", and because i t's not a major threat in South Africa, the government-run Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute "won't have adequate vaccine reserves . So we will have to import vaccines, and that will take a while . .. but winter will save us. "

...
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article378041.ece/Rift-Valley-Fever-risk

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article379171.ece/Rift-valley-fever-spread-to-Western-Cape

Rift valley fever spread to Western Cape
Mar 29, 2010 7:47 PM | By Sapa

Rift valley fever (RVF) has spread to the Western Cape with a veterinarian presumably infected and 14 animals dead, the provincial departments of agriculture and health said on Monday.

The man presumably got infected while conducting post mortem examinations on two dead cows, department of health spokeswoman Helene Rossouw said in a statement.

Department of agriculture spokesman Wouter Kriel said the two Jersey cattle died near the border of the Northern and Western Cape.

Twelve Merino lambs died on a farm 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.?

Rossouw said the vet?s symptoms included fever, severe headache, muscle aches and extreme eye pain with sensitivity to light. Blood samples had been taken to verify the cause of these symptoms. The man was under medical supervision at home and his condition was stable.

A total of 63 people had been confirmed infected countrywide so far.

According to the national health department out of the 63, 54 cases and two deaths were from the Free State. There were four cases in the Eastern Cape and five cases in the Northern Cape...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=120978,1,22

Published: 2010/03/31 14:27:57

Three more people infected with Rift Valley Fever

JOHANNESBURG - Three more people have been infected with Rift Valley Fever (RVF), the ministry of health said on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Charity Bhengu said this brought the number of confirmed human laboratory cases to 69, while two people, both from the Free State, have died from the disease since the first incident was reported on February 13.

?The National Institute of Communicable Disease reported this (Wednesday) morning that of the 69 cases of infected people, 58 cases and two deaths are from Free State, four in Eastern Cape and seven in Northern Cape,? said Bhengu.

?Additional suspect cases are currently being tested.?

Bhengu said in all of the cases reported, the victims were either farmers, veterinarians or farm workers...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=5415554

Rift Valley Fever kills five

April 03, 2010 Edition 1

Five people have died and 82 others country-wide are infected with the Rift Valley Fever, the Ministry of Health said yesterday.

Nine new infections have been detected since the virus broke out on February 13, it said.

Free State was the worst hit with four deaths and 66 infections, followed by the Northern Cape with one death and 10 people infected...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/10/10040710351001



Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 07 Apr 2010
Title: Eighty-seven RVF human cases confirmed
--------------------


Pretoria - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed five new human laboratory cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF). This pushes up the number of confirmed cases to 87.

Of the 87 confirmed cases, 68 cases and four deaths are from the Free State, seven from the Eastern Cape, 11 cases and two deaths from the Northern Cape and one from the North West.

The Departments of Health and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, supported by the South African Field Epidemiology and Training Programme (SA-FELTP) and NICD continue to respond to the outbreak...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Rift-Valley-Fever-fears-unfounded-20100408


Rift Valley Fever fears 'unfounded'
2010-04-08 19:06

Hlengiwe Mnguni, News24

Cape Town - Veterinarians have moved to allay the public's fears of possible Rift Valley Fever infection as the outbreak spreads across the country.

"There is no threat, no fear," Angela Zucca of the Kenilworth Veterinarian Hospital told News24 on Thursday.

Zucca, who has been with the hospital for seven years, said she had never witnessed a case of cross contamination while working at the hospital. "That only happens when a place is dirty," she said adding that the hospital was sanitised thoroughly.

The risk of exposure to members of the public is further lowered by the fact that animals infected in outbreaks such as this one are usually not treated by private vets, said Dr Gary Buhrmann, Boland chief state veterinarian.

"State veterinarians are usually responsible for a large bulk of the cases," he told News24.

Remain calm

He urged members of the public to remain calm, as they were "not really at risk".

"The only advice I can give them is to stay away from infected farms," he said.

In the Western Cape - the latest province to report infections after the outbreak started in the Free State, spread to the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape - three farms in Beaufort West have reported Rift Valley Fever infections, Buhrmann said.

Infected animals there were dying at a rate of 5 ? 10%, he said.

Beaufort West state veterinarian Dr Jaco Pienaar, who is recovering from what he believes to be Rift Valley Fever (he is waiting for laboratory confirmation), reiterated Buhrmann's assertions.

He said although the risk remained high for people who come into contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals, he had never heard of a human to human infection case and infection through mosquito bites was yet to be proven.

"Only healthy animals get milked. And the meat as well... it gets inspected before slaughtering," he said to News24 dismissing fears of infection through contaminated animal products.

100 confirmed cases

Pienaar was infected while performing a post mortem on an infected cow.

"I'm feeling a lot better now," Pienaar said although his eyes were still hurting.

Sensitivity to light is one of the symptoms of Rift Valley Fever in humans.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases other symptoms include flu-like symptoms, neck stiffness, vomiting and loss of appetite.

As of Thursday, there were 100 confirmed cases of human Rift Valley Fever infections in the country, 77 of them in the Free State. Seven people have died from the disease.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

<CENTER>104 people with Rift Valley fever, seven deaths</CENTER>
9 April 2010

A total of 104 laboratory confirmed cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) have been reported by the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) laboratory this morning.

Seven people have died since the first incident on 13 February 2010.

Seventy-eight (78) cases and four deaths are from Free State, seven from the Eastern Cape and 18 cases and three deaths are from Northern Cape with two deaths, and one from North West.

The Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, supported by the South African Field Epidemiology and Training Programme (SAFELTP) and NICD, continue to respond to the outbreak.

The following response measures are being prioritised:
* laboratory, epidemiology and surveillance interventions (for diagnosis, case finding and investigation)
* health promotion interventions
* environmental health measures and
* management of confirmed cases

Direct contact with Rift Valley fever infected livestock and or linked to farms with confirmed animal cases of Rift Valley fever, remain the main risk factor for the infection. The human cases are farmers, veterinarians and farm workers. Additional suspect cases are currently being tested.

Affected farms are primarily clustered within Free State (initially in Lejweleputswa district, Bultfontein area). The Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Northern Cape and North West provinces have also reported Rift Valley fever among animals. The Department of Agriculture in Free State has vaccinated animals to contain the spread of the virus.

Rift Valley fever is a viral disease that can cause severe disease in a low proportion of infected humans. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes outbreaks of abortion and deaths of young livestock (sheep, goats and cattle). It is important to note that, humans become infected from contact with infected tissues of livestock and less frequently from mosquito bites. The disease occurs throughout Africa and Madagascar when exceptionally heavy rains favour the breeding of the mosquito vectors.

Clinical features in humans:

Typically illness is asymptomatic or mild in the vast majority of infected persons, and severe disease would be expected to occur in less than one percent of infected persons.
Key symptoms:
* The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) for RVF varies from two to six days
* Sudden onset of flu-like fever and or muscle pain
* Some patients develop neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, loss of appetite and vomiting and
* symptoms of Rift Valley fever usually last from four to seven days, after which time the immune response becomes detectable with the appearance of antibodies and the virus gradually disappears from the blood.
Severe form of Rift Valley fever in humans includes:
* vision disturbances
* intense headache, loss of memory, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, vertigo, convulsions, lethargy and coma and
* haemorrhagic fever

People living in the affected areas are encouraged to seek medical attention at their nearest Health facilities, should they have any of the above symptoms.

Preventive measures:

While there is no specific treatment, the majority of persons affected will recover completely. People should avoid contact with the tissues of infected animals, refrain from drinking unpasteurised milk and prevent mosquito bites to avoid becoming infected. Farmers and veterinarians should wear protective clothing when handling sick animals or their tissues. There is no routine vaccine available for humans.

Media enquiries:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Media interviews:
Frew Benson
Cell: 082 372 4199
Patrick Moonasar
Cell: 082 578 3107
Charles Mugero
Cell: 082 717 5306 Issued by: Department of Health
9 April 2010

http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2010/10040908551003.htm