AGRICULTURE Minister Derek Hanekom on Monday warned farmers in Mpumalanga and Northern Province to vaccinate their animals and wear rubber gloves when handling carcasses after the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in the Kruger National Park. Rift Valley Fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that usually results in in abortions or neo-natal mortalities in sheep, goats and to a lesser extent in cattle and wild ruminants. Hanekom said that though the fever can affect humans, infections is primarily caused through contact with infected animal tissues. He said that although the disease had been diagnosed only in the south of the park and in the Timbavati private nature reserve, livestock owners in the area should report all livestock abortions and neo-natal deaths to their local state veterinarian or animal health technician.