Farmers and the general public are informed that there is an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever at Seribe crush in Ramotswa. This outbreak follows outbreaks of the disease in the Republic of South Africa and Namibia early this year. The disease was detected in aborted cattle fetuses.

This is the first ever recorded case of Rift Valley Fever in Botswana.   Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease of domestic and wildlife animals, but it can also affect people. In animals it is mainly transmitted through mosquito bites.

People can contract the disease through handling or consuming contaminated material such as meat, milk, body fluids and sick animals. The disease in animals is characterized by abortion at all stages of pregnancy and high mortality in young animals. In people, the disease may present itself with fever, muscle or joint pains and bleeding from the nose, mouth and skin. This can lead to death.    In order to reduce the risk of spread of the disease and determine the extent of the outbreak, the following measures have been put in place with immediate effect;

1.   Movement of cattle, sheep and goats within, out and into Ramotswa extension area is not allowed.

2.   Movement of cattle, sheep and goats within, out and into Kgatleng District, Good-hope Sub-district and Lobatse, Otse, Tlokweng, Gaborone and Mogobane extension areas except for direct slaughter at slaughter facilities licensed by the Department of Veterinary Services is not allowed.

3.   Transiting cattle, sheep and goats for  rearing, through Kgatleng and Southeast Districts and Goodhope Sub-district from other parts of the country is allowed under permit after dipping with a mosquito repellent dip or pour-ons.

4.   Transiting of imported vaccinated cattle, sheep and goats is allowed through Kgatleng and Southeast Districts and Goodhope sub-district after dipping with a mosquito repellent dip or pour-ons.

5.   However, movement of cattle, sheep and goats in the rest of the country is not affected by these movement restrictions.

 As part of surveillance, farmers are urged to report any cases of abortion in cattle, sheep and goats or mortality in young animals to the nearest veterinary office.   Farmers and the general public are strongly advised to avoid handling or consuming any suspect or possibly contaminated material i.e. aborted fetuses, removing retained placenta from aborted animals, milking aborted animals, slaughtering animals that have recently aborted, handling young dead animal, slaughtering animals whose young ones have recently died.

The general public is further advised to thoroughly cook animal products before eating such products.

The public will be informed about any developments that may occur in future.