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.

Agricultural officials are out in the field collecting blood samples on farms for testing. So far about 40 farms have positively confirmed the disease, with results from a further 70 farms still awaiting. So far one person has died after contracting the disease. Research shows that only 1% of humans contracting Rift Valley Fever die from it.

Rift Valley Fever is a viral infection primarily affecting domestic livestock - but can be passed to humans - causing fever. It is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Outbreaks occur across sub-Saharan Africa, with outbreaks occurring elsewhere infrequently.

The fever was last reported in the Free State more than 20 years ago. The farm of Jan Wessels lays 10km outside Bultfontein and was one of the first farms to report an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever and has since lost 300 lambs.

There is currently a shortage of vaccines for the disease in the Free State. The provincial department of Agriculture expects to receive stock within the next week.

The recent good rains over the central interior created favourable conditions for mosquitoes, which are carriers of the fever. Farmers are encouraged to seek help as soon as they suspect that their livestock might have the disease.

In Kenya in 1998, the virus claimed the lives of over 400 Kenyans. In September 2000 an outbreak was confirmed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.