27 July 2007
Due to the increase in the number of rabies cases over the last few years,
both in humans and animals throughout the world, the Rabies Alliance (an
alliance of research and control institutions worldwide) has organised a 'World
Rabies Day' to take place on 8 September 2007.
The Department of Agriculture, the Provincial Veterinary Services, together
with the South African Rabies Advisory Group has committed themselves to
participating in this event by organising a National Rabies Week in South
Africa, starting on 3 September and ending on World Rabies Day, 8 September.
The Rabies Week will be aimed at both educating the public and increasing
awareness of rabies amongst the public and decision makers, and will involve
the Departments of Agriculture and Health, as well as all the relevant
Provincial Departments and other role players.
Rabies the disease
Rabies is a viral disease, which is transmitted from animals to
humans/animals through biting by an infected animal. The development of rabies
in humans can be prevented if correct post exposure treatment, including
vaccination, is administered timeously and correctly. Once humans/animals start
showing symptoms of rabies there is no treatment and the disease leads to
death. Rabies causes very severe symptoms in humans and it is regarded as one
of the most traumatic ways to die.
In some parts of South Africa, rabies is associated with the domestic dogs,
and wild animals play almost no role at all. The Rabies Week will be used to
emphasise the importance of having pets properly vaccinated against rabies, as
well as the correct methods of post exposure treatment in humans.
The only way to prevent rabies is through vaccination.
The public is urged to get their animals vaccinated and to report animals
with behavioural changes, domestic animals getting aggressive and wild animals
getting tame, to their nearest state veterinarian.
Expert advice on rabies is available from:
* Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute
Rabies Unit
Tel: 012 529 9420/9439
* National Institute of Communicable Diseases (Human exposures)
Cell: 082 883 9920
* Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory
Tel: 033 347 6200
* Directorate of Veterinary Services
Department of Agriculture
Tel: 012 319 7502.
For further information contact your nearest state veterinarian or animal
health technician.
Provincial Veterinary Services contact numbers:
KwaZulu-Natal: 033 347 6200
Gauteng: 012 328 8540
Limpopo: 015 307 2800
Free State: 051 436 5834
Eastern Cape: 043 683 1004
Mpumalanga: 013 741 4710/3218
Northern Cape: 053 839 7800
North West: 014 592 9281/2
Western Cape: 021 808 5052
For further information contact:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Chief of Communications
Fax: 012 319 7858
Tel: 012 319 7317
Cell: 083 452 5743
E-mail: dais@nda.agric.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
27 July 2007
