Maputo — The Mozambican National Veterinary Services has banned the import of livestock from neighbouring Swaziland because of an outbreak of Rift Valley fever in the Malkerns district, which has been confirmed by Swaziland's Onderspoort Veterinary Institute.

Rift Valley fever is a viral disease spread by mosquitoes. Fatality rates among livestock are high, and among pregnant animals the disease is almost always fatal. It can be transmitted to humans, occasionally resulting in death, although most people infected by the virus recover within a few days.

Mozambican National Veterinary Director Florencia Cipriano, cited in Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias", said that the ban was issued under powers granted to his directorate under the animal health regulations of 2004.

The ban on import of Swazi animals is accompanied by stricter checks on the movement of livestock in the Mozambican districts bordering on Swaziland.

Meanwhile, the government has lifted the ban on the movement of livestock to and from the western province of Tete, imposed in March because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The outbreak was detected in the southern province of Gaza among animals that had been purchased in Tete.

The sick animals were slaughtered, controls were placed on the movement of livestock, and an emergency cattle vaccination campaign was launched. The outbreak was brought under control, and in recent months no further cases of the disease have been reported.