1,000 pets to be vaccinated for World Rabies Day after the Khayelitsha outbreak

City

Cape Town – Given the prevalence of rabies infected dogs in the region, the Mdzananda Veterinary Clinic in Khayelitsha hopes to vaccinate 1,000 dogs in one day in an effort to raise awareness and share information on rabies prevention.

World Rabies Day was celebrated around the world on Tuesday and marks the date of Louis Pasteur’s death in 1895, who helped develop a vaccine against the disease.

The upsurge in rabies infected dogs in the region has been a latent problem since last month when cases of rabies were confirmed by the veterinary services of the Department of Agriculture.

Heidi May, general manager of the Mdzananda veterinary clinic, said vaccination of dogs potentially infected with rabies in the region has never been more vital, given the cases presented in the region.

“It is essential to vaccinate your dogs against rabies, and now even more so, because we have had cases presented to Khayelitsha. Symptoms include fever, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, wobbling, seizures, and aggression. There is no specific treatment for rabies, however, once symptoms appear it’s almost always fatal, so a vaccine can still prevent infection, ”she said.

In order to fight this wave, the clinic will organize a mass vaccination day on Saturday October 2 where pets in the community can be vaccinated. The Clinic is however asking members of the public to sponsor a dog for R50 and this will cover the cost of vaccinations, needles, syringes and gloves. Each pet will also receive a vaccine against other deadly diseases, including parvovirus, distemper, parainfluenza, and adenovirus.

According to global data, rabies kills at least one person every nine minutes and more than 70,000 people die from the virus each year, with Africa and Asia accounting for 95% of these deaths, according to the World Organization for animal health.

SPCA spokeswoman Belinda Abraham said that while the disease is transmitted primarily through biting, preventing rabies begins with taking ownership of the owner and vaccinating their pet.

“Rabies is a viral zoonosis (transmissible from animals to humans) which causes progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The disease is transmitted primarily by bite, but exposure can also occur through contamination of damaged skin or mucous membranes with the saliva of an infected animal.

“Rabies prevention starts with a pet owner. Vaccinations are needed to protect our pets from devastating and potentially fatal diseases, boost our pets’ immunity to certain diseases, and prevent pets from transmitting a disease like rabies to humans.

“Pets should be vaccinated against rabies at 12 weeks of age, nine months after the 12 week vaccine, and every three years thereafter. Protect yourself, your pet, and your community by making sure your pets are vaccinated. Be vigilant and avoid pets if they display behavior that is inappropriate for them, as well as wild animals that appear tame or do not run away from you. If you are bitten, wash the bites off with soap and water and see a doctor immediately. If your pet is bitten, see your vet immediately, ”Abraham said.

Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza said in a statement that although the country commemorates the 15th World Rabies Day, the government pledges to have no human deaths. due to rabies transmitted by dogs by 2030.

“Vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies is required by law. It is vitally important that every pet owner, from all walks of life, have their dogs and cats vaccinated in order to protect our communities against this disease.

“South Africa is committed to the global ‘Zero by 30’ campaign. The goal is to have zero human deaths from dog-transmitted rabies by 2030. This can be achieved through adequate vaccination of dog (and cat) populations, as well as the provision of treatment for humans who have been exposed to rabid animals, ”Didiza said. .

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