South Africa: Rift Valley Fever wreaks havoc in Free State

[Shiloh]

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

Source: http://www.citizen.co.za/index/artic...sc=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/Ne...unded-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

[Pathfinder]

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

<CENTER>Nine deaths from Rift Valley fever </CENTER>
11 April 2010

A total of 111 laboratory confirmed human cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) have been reported by the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) laboratory. Nine people have died since the first incident on 13 February 2010.
Of the 111 cases, 81 cases and five deaths are from Free State, seven from the Eastern Cape, and 22 cases and four deaths are from Northern Cape and one from North West.

/.../

http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2010/10041208551003.htm

[Shiloh]

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

Source: http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/...he_karoo_.aspx

South Africa - Rift Valley Fever in the Karoo

16 Apr 2010
State Vets from the Eastern Cape?s agriculture department confirmed a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak in the Middleburg and Hofmeyr regions and issued a veterinary quarantine notice for these areas.
This limits movement of sheep, goats and cattle, unless authorised by written permit from a state vet...

[Ronan Kelly]

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

Rift Valley Fever claims 9 lives
2010-04-17 15:08


Johannesburg - Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has claimed the lives of nine people in South Africa, the Ministry of Health said on Saturday.

Spokesperson Charity Bhengu said in a statement that five of the people were from the Free State and the others from the Northern Cape.

She said a total of 139 confirmed RVF cases have been reported by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases since February 13.

Bhengu said those who had contracted the disease were farmers, veterinarians and farm workers.

She said direct contact with RVF-infected livestock and links to farms with confirmed animal cases were the main risk factors for contracting the infection.

Symptoms of the virus include a sudden onset of flu-like fever, muscle pain, sensitivity to light, loss of appetite and vomiting.

In more severe forms, symptoms can also include intense headaches, convulsions, haemorrhage fever and coma. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes outbreaks of abortion and deaths of young livestock such as 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," Bhengu said.

"The disease occurs throughout Africa and Madagascar when exceptionally heavy rains favour the breeding of the mosquito vectors," she said.


- SAPA

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Rift-Valley-Fever-claims-9-lives-20100417

[Pathfinder]

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

<CENTER>Two more people die from Rift Valley Fever (RVF)</CENTER>
22 April 2010

Six additional cases ? five from Free State and one from Northern Cape - of Rift Valley fever (RVF) have been reported by the South African National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) Laboratory. The total number of laboratory confirmed human cases of RVF is now 149 since the first incident on 13 February 2010.

The number of deaths has also increased from nine to 11.

Of 149 cases, 100 cases and 7 deaths are from Free State, 38 cases and 4 deaths are from Northern Cape, 8 cases from Eastern Cape, I case is from North West and 2 cases whose history is still unknown.

The majority of cases have had mild flu-like symptoms and have not developed complications. There is no vaccine for humans or specific treatment. The risk of disease is to persons having direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals and the majority of people affected have been persons working on farms, veterinary workers and slaughter men.

There is no human to human spread. Mosquitoes are important in transmission of the virus from animal to animal but not in transmission to humans in the South African outbreak as the mosquitoes involved prefer feeding on animals and don?t generally feed indoors. The disease is generally seen on farms, and not in the cities other than related to the occasional informal slaughter of infected animals.

The eating of well cooked meat poses no risk, nor does the drinking of pasteurised milk. It is likely that the number of animal cases and therefore human will decrease as the weather gets cooler. An animal vaccination programme on farms and suspected areas has been affected by 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 carcasses on farms or handle raw meat 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. There is no risk to visitors to Game Parks as the disease typically only affects ruminants such as sheep, cattle and goats.
/.../

http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2010/10042211351001.htm

[Ronan Kelly]

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

Cape woman dies of RVF
2010-04-28 19:18

Johannesburg - One person has died of Rift Valley Fever in the Western Cape, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Wednesday.

An official at the NICD said the person was from the Oudtshoorn area.

Further details would be released by the health department at a later date.

-snip-

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Cape-woman-dies-of-RVF-20100428

[Pathfinder]

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

<CENTER>Rift Valley Fever (RVF) claims another life</CENTER>
29 April 2010

Another patient from the Free State Province has died increasing the total number of people who have died from RVF to 14 since the first incident on 13 February 2010. Of these reported mortalities, seven are from Free State, six from Northern Cape and one from Western Cape.

A total of 164 laboratory confirmed human RVF cases has also been reported by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) Laboratory 103 from Free State, 48 from Northern Cape, nine from Eastern Cape, one from North West, one from Western Cape and two additional cases whose history is still unknown.

The NICD is confident that the number of animal cases and therefore human cases are likely to decrease as the weather gets cooler.
The majority of human cases have had mild flu-like symptoms and have not developed complications. There is no human to human spread. The risk of disease is to persons having direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals and the majority of people affected have been persons working on farms, veterinary workers and slaughter men.

/.../

http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2010/10042914551003.htm

***************************
Also see: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...State-20100429

[Ronan Kelly]

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

First Fatal Rift Valley fever case in Western Cape

Submitted by editor on May 2, 2010 - 09:41 The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed today that a 49-year old male from the Karoo has been the first human to die from Rift Valley fever in the Western Cape. He died in Oudtshoorn Hospital. The NICD is still investigating the patients source of exposure. It is unsure in which manner he contracted the disease. There have been confirmed cases of Rift Valley fever in animals in the Oudtshoorn area.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture also confirmed today that two alpacas have died from Rift Valley fever on a farm in Simondium, outside Paarl in the Western Cape. This is the latest confirmed case of Rift Valley fever in animals in the province, and also the first case in the south western part of the Western Cape province. Western Cape Health Minister, Theuns Botha, said that health workers at hospitals and provincial health facilities in the Karoo and Boland have been alerted to lookout for symptoms of Rift Valley fever among patients who visit their facilities. Symptoms among humans include flu-like fever, muscle pain, joint pain and headache. People, who have been exposed to raw meat sourced from possible infected animals, can be at risk, as well as people who have consumed unpasteurised milk from potentially infected animals.

Botha added that this is not a disease that can spread from human to human, but only when humans are exposed to the blood of potentially infected animals, or the unpasteurised milk of potentially infected animals.

Gerrit van Rensburg, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, reiterated that all livestock farmers in the province should vaccinate their animals against this disease, as prevention is the only effective management measure. He said that winter is upon us, and that the cooler weather should see to a decline in mosquito activity and the subsequent prevalence of Rift Valley fever. Nonetheless: Rather be safe than sorry, Van Rensburg added.

The Department of Agriculture suspects that the movement of infected animals could have been the cause of the diseases appearance in the Paarl area. According to the Department of Agriculture, this is an isolated case.

Van Rensburg said that the Department of Agriculture is working hand in hand with the Department of Health on all matters pertaining to Rift Valley fever, as animal cases will most likely be the precursor to possible human cases.

To date, animal cases of Rift Valley fever have been contained to the northern parts of the Western Cape and two isolated cases in the Oudtshoorn area.

Three laboratory confirmed incidents of Rift Valley fever have so far been reported: two heads of cattle north of Beaufort West; 11 sheep in the Nelspoort area, and 25 sheep and 45 abortions in the Murraysburg area. Clinically identified, but laboratory unconfirmed, animal mortalities include 200 sheep and 100 ewe abortions in the Beaufort West, Murraysburg and Oudtshoorn areas.

Visit http://www.oie.int for more information on the spread of the disease in animals.

Media enquiries:

Helene Rossouw, Media Liaison, Western Cape Ministry of Health

Tel: 021 483 4426

Cell: 082 771 8834

Fax: 021 483 4143

E-mail: herossou@pgwc.gov.za

Wouter Kriel, Agriculture

Cell: 079 694 3085

Tel: 021 483 4700

E-mail: wouterkriel@gmail.com

Jointly issued by: Departments of Health and of Agriculture and Rural Development, Western Cape Provincial Government

28 April 2010

Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
South Africa

http://www.webnewswire.com/node/530109

[Shiloh]

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

Source: http://www.citizen.co.za/index/artic...sc=125200,1,22

Published: 4/05/2010 21:08:36

Institute reports two new cases of Rift Valley Fever in SA

HEALTH REPORTER

JOHANNESBURG - Two new cases of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) were reported by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Monday.

A 34-year-old man from Britstown in the Northern Cape was infected with RVF after direct contact with animal tissue, said health department spokesman Charity Bhengu.

The NICD said the onset of the infection was on April 25. No complications had been noted.

?The second person is a 21-year-old female from Verkeerdevlei, Free State, who was also infected as a result of contact with animal tissue and drinking unpasteurised milk,? said Bhengu.

The NICD reported that the onset of the infection started with vomiting on April 22 and no further complications had been noted.

?This brings the total to 166 laboratory confirmed human RVF cases,? she said.

The Free State has 105 cases of RVF, there are 48 in the Northern Cape, nine in the Eastern Cape, one in the Western Cape and one in North West.

Two additional cases have been reported, but their history is still unknown.

A total of 15 people have died from RVF.

Bhengu said most of the human cases had mild flu-like symptoms and had not developed complications.

?There is no human-to-human spread,? she said.

The risk of the disease is greater for people who have direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals.

Many of the infected have been farm workers, veterinary workers and slaughtermen.
healthnews@citizen.co.za

[Twall]

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

Fao just published these confirmed cases

http://empres-i.fao.org/rss/region/Africa

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (cattle, sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (cattle)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Eastern Cape, for domestic mammal (cattle, sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (cattle)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (cattle, goats/sheep )

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (cattle)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (cattle, sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in North-west, for domestic mammal (cattle, sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (cattle)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (cattle)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (cattle, goats, sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (cattle, sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Free State, for domestic mammal (cattle, sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (cattle)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

20/04/2010: South Africa - Rift Valley fever
Today, May 05, 2010, 4 minutes ago
Confirmed Rift Valley fever in Northern Cape, for domestic mammal (sheep)

[Shiloh]

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

Source: http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=402594

Rift Valley fever spreads to areas close to Mandela Bay

2010/05/18

DEADLY Rift Valley fever is spreading rapidly in the Eastern Cape and has reached as close to Nelson Mandela Bay as Humansdorp and the Tsitsikamma area.

Senior manager and director for veterinary services in the Eastern Cape, Dr Cedisa Mnqeta, said there were now 45 farms in the province which had tested positive for the fever and more test results were outstanding.

There have also been eight confirmed human cases in the province.

Rift Valley fever can be spread to humans by handling animals and their blood, and by mosquitos.

The latest outbreak of the disease has just been confirmed on a Tsitsikamma dairy farm and the Eastern Cape Veterinary Services believe this outbreak is potentially very serious as it is unlikely mosquitoes will die out over winter in this area.

Mnqeta confirmed that farms which tested positive for Rift Valley fever are in the Cradock, Humansdorp, Middelburg, Hofmeyr, Steynsburg, Graaff- Reinet, Jansenville and Tsitsikamma areas. Of the eight confirmed human cases, two were veterinary services staff members, five were farm workers who worked with animals and one was a township resident suspected of coming into contact with diseased meat.

There are almost 200 confirmed cases in the country.

Agri Eastern Cape has warned farmers to take preventative measures, such a vaccinating livestock to prevent the disease from spreading, which would impact negatively on the province?s agricultural economy.

The manager of veterinary services in the western region of the Eastern Cape, Dr Jane Pistorius, said it was important that farmers vaccinate their stock, even in areas to which the disease is not expected to spread .

She expressed concern that many farmers did not report possible outbreaks of the disease because of the fact that China had stopped importing SA wool because of the disease. ? The Herald, Avusa Group News