PREVENTION PRACTICES FOR RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) If a case of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is confirmed anywhere in the Specific steps you can take upon RVF being confirmed in the United States, mosquitoes could spread it across the nation. If United States are listed below. Many should already be in any animal on your farm is confirmed to have RVF, all animals place on your farm but should be enhanced and more strictly on the farm that could get sick (cattle, sheep and goats) may enforced in the event that RVF is confirmed in the U.S. This will be euthanized and disposed of to control the further spread of minimize the chance of the disease being introduced onto disease. your farm. There are steps you can take to help reduce the risk of RVF from entering your herd. Strict biosecurity practices can Farm Entrance help you and your neighbors minimize the chances that your animals will have to be destroyed. • Limit access to your farm. - The entrance to your farm is a major control point. A General Precautions handout (found on the CFSPH website) - Have only one gated entrance to the ani- provides prevention steps that should always be used on a mal areas on your farm to better monitor and farm. control all visitors arriving on your farm. The biosecurity practices outlined here should be put into - Keep the gate locked when not in use. place immediately if RVF is confirmed anywhere in the U.S. • Stop all movement of ani- and maintained until the U.S. is once again declared RVF free. mals on and off your farm. - If RVF is confirmed in the U.S., movement re- General Precautionary Measures strictions will most likely be implemented lo- cally, regionally and possibly nationally. Rift Valley Fever is a fever-causing viral disease that severely - Restrictions will depend on the affects cattle, sheep, goats and humans. There is a very high scope of the outbreak. rate of abortion and death in newborn animals. RVF is spread - These measures will minimize the spread of between animals and humans by mosquitoes. A mosquito RVF to other areas, including your farm. will feed on blood from an animal/person with RVF and • Post signs at the farm entrance to in- spread RVF to a new animal when it feeds again. Prevention form visitors. (See Appendix A) measures to minimize the introduction and spread of RVF - Stay off this farm unless given permission to enter. onto your farm fall into four general categories: - Honk before getting out of vehi- 1. Restrict or stop all animal movement to pre- cle (to announce your arrival). vent entry or spread of the disease. - Check-in with farm personnel upon arrival. (Di- 2. Observe, detect and report any dis- rect visitors to “where” they should check-in). ease or unusual signs to your herd vet- - Follow farm biosecurity procedures. erinarian as quickly as possible. - Visitors should avoid contact with ani- 3. Mosquitoes are the most important way that mals unless absolutely necessary. RVF is spread. Control of mosquito breed- ing sites (stock tanks, ponds, old tires etc.) is • Traffic on or off your farm should be closely the key to prevent spread of the disease. monitored and recorded. (See Appendix B) 4. Humans can get Rift Valley Fever. Protect your- - Maintain a log sheet to record all visi- self against mosquito bites and use personal tors and vehicles that enter your farm. protective equipment (respirator, gloves, eye - All visitors should be accompanied by some- protection etc.) when handling tissues from ani- one from your farm at all times. mals that have aborted (placenta, fetus etc.). - Accurate record keeping of traffic on your farm will help with disease surveillance and track- ing should it become necessary. Do not rely on your ability to “recall” visitors and vehicles. RVF_PrevPrac PAGE OF 4 PREVENTION PRACTICES FOR RVF (CONT’D) Mosquito Life Cycle and Control • Check with your local extension office or depart- ment of pest management to determine which Mosquitoes are the most important way that RVF is spread. It pesticides are approved for use in your area. is only the female mosquito that feeds on blood as she needs the protein to produce eggs. Mosquitoes will lay their eggs on or near the edge of water. The mosquito eggs will hatch Animals into larvae (also known as “wigglers”) which turn into pupae (also known as “tumblers”). The larvae and the pupae need Livestock to live in water to survive. The pupae will change into adult mosquitoes. (See Appendix C) • Monitor animals closely and frequently for any developing illness or signs of disease. Control of Mosquito Egg Laying Sites • Educate yourself and train your employ- (See Appendix D) ees about RVF and the signs of illness. - Abortions at any stage of pregnancy, • This is the best way to control mosqui- up to 100% of pregnant animals toes since they lay eggs in specific ar- - Adult cattle: fever, snotty nose, yellow mucus mem- eas and these areas can be managed. branes (gums) or eyes, refusal to eat, diarrhea • Mosquitoes can lay their eggs any place that - Calves: fever, depression, sudden death can hold water. This includes: ponds, old tires, - Adult sheep and goats: snotty nose, diarrhea, yellow tarps, tree holes, bird baths and flower pots. mucus membranes (gums) or eyes, an unsteady gait - Lambs and kids: high fever, de- Control of Mosquito Larvae (“wigglers”) pression, sudden death • Mosquito larvae need to live in wa- • Contact your herd veterinarian imme- ter to survive. They can be found in diately to examine sick animals. any amount of standing water including • Isolate sick animals in a mosquito- ponds, old tires, tarps and bird baths. proof building away from the herd for • Since mosquito larvae remain in the same 30 days to minimize disease spread. water where they hatched from eggs, con- • Any animals that have recently been pur- trol of this stage focuses on continued man- chased or returned to the farm should agement of mosquito egg laying areas. be quarantined for 30 days. • The use of pesticides should only be used - New or returning animals (e.g. shows, as a supplement to controlling mosqui- competitions) can be infected with a dis- toes through the reduction and manage- ease without showing signs right away. ment of mosquito egg laying sites. - Quarantine allows time for a disease to develop in the animal, without exposing your entire herd • Check with your local extension office or depart- to the disease agent. The animal can then be ex- ment of pest management to determine which amined, diagnosed and treated (if it is not RVF). pesticides are approved for use in your area. - Ideally, animals should be quarantined at a separate location (premises). Control of Mosquito Adults • This is the least effective way to control Other Animals mosquitoes. Attempting to control adult • Prevent free roaming animals (dogs, mosquitoes can be difficult and costly. cats) from coming onto your farm. • Control of adult mosquitoes fo- - Dogs and cats can get RVF, and it can cuses on the use of pesticides. be fatal in puppies and kittens. - Infected dogs and cats could serve as a • The use of pesticides should only be source of the RVF virus for mosquitoes to supplemental to controlling mosqui- pass the disease to your livestock. toes through the reduction and manage- - Keep pets in a kennel or tied securely. ment of mosquito egg laying areas. - Ask your neighbors to do the same. RVF_PrevPrac PAGE OF 4 PREVENTION PRACTICES FOR RVF (CONT’D) People • People can get RVF. Infected humans may serve as a source of the virus for mosquitoes which • People can get RVF several ways: could spread the disease to animals or humans. (see Appendix C) - Being bit by a mosquito. • Visitors should park at the entrance - Handling infected animal tissues or fluids. to the farm, away from animal ar- - Breathing in the virus when handling infected eas, or in designated parking areas. animal fluids (blood, birthing tissues and milk). • Specific rules and biosecurity measures to use • Protect yourself against mosquitoes. on farm should be clearly posted for visitors. - When outside, wear long pants and • Record any visitors on the farm with long sleeves to cover skin. a log sheet. (See Appendix B) - Use insect repellants on exposed skin. Repellants • All visitors should be accompanied by with N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (commonly known someone from the farm at all times. as DEET) are the most effective. DEET is an in- sect repellant that is safe to use on people but not • Visitors should avoid livestock areas, pens, on pets. Make sure to follow all label directions. barns unless absolutely necessary. - Make sure screens on windows and • If your livestock business depends on visi- doors are in good repair. tors, such as petting farms, or international • Sick animals should not be processed for and local visitors for sales promotion, meat or necropsied during a RVF outbreak. - Ensure that they have not been to ar- - This can release the virus into the air. People eas where RVF has recently occurred. who necropsy the animals or process meat - Visitors from these areas should not be al- may become sick by breathing in the vi- lowed access if they have flu-like illness. rus or by handling the meat and organs. This would include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting. • Wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves, coveralls, boots, protec- tive eyewear and a respirator when han- Record Keeping dling aborted fetuses, birthing tissues, or milking potentially infected animals. • Maintain thorough and accurate re- cords of animal movement.