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Dr Faffa Malan, Manager of the Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa, says that it's all got to do with biting insects like midgets, mosquitoes, flies as well as ticks of which all require moist conditions. 

They lay their eggs in conditions such as rain, water sources and wet areas. More favourable conditions include heat and summer conditions which activate the insects' spreadability of the diseases.

"If we look at the viral diseases we think first of all of bluetongue. Bluetongue is a sheep and cattle disease," says Malan.

He also speaks of African horse sickness as being a huge pandemic on its own. He says this sickness can be classified into the "dikkop form" and the "lunch form". 

He delves into another disease that can be awakened by heavy rainfalls and moisture weather conditions called lumpy skin disease.

He says that implementing preventative measures such as moving animals from water receiving low lying areas to the high veld, spraying animals with insecticides and ultimately vaccinating animals.

Malan warns those handling animals to be very careful as infected animals could spread the diseases to humans.

He concludes by saying that a viral disease cannot be treated with antibiotics.

"So if you haven't vaccinated [the animals] we are really going into a bad set. So be aware," adds Malan.

OFM News/Lee Simmons