Dr Danie Odendaal, spokesperson for the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa (RuVASA) said special care should be taken that all replacement animals were vaccinated and that an inactivated vaccine was used for pregnant animals.
The disease, which is spread by mosquitoes, could cause large-scale abortions and deaths of young animals. The disease-carrying mosquitoes usually occur on the banks of large bodies of water.
“Livestock producers in the drought stricken areas such as the Northern Cape where large pans filled up after the recent rains should be particularly vigilant,” said Odendaal.
