The Directorate Animal Health in collaboration with various other directorates within the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as provincial veterinary services, will dedicate 23 September 2013 to 29 September 2013 to World Rabies Week. Although each individual province will have their own World Rabies Day/weekly/monthly campaigns hosted by their relevant Provincial Veterinary Services, the Directorate Animal Health has decided to focus their attention on the Free State Province during the 2013 World Rabies Week.
Human rabies cases have rarely been reported in the Free State Province. During June 2013, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported two confirmed human rabies cases that have originated from Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, both within the Mangaung Local Municipality within the Free State Province. Humans get rabies by most commonly being bitten by an animal with rabies. Signs of rabies in animals include changes in behaviour (wild animals appear tame and domestic animals become aggressive), drooling of saliva, incoordination and paralysis. During 2012, animal rabies cases were reported in the Free State Local Municipalities of Mohokare, Mantsopa, Setsoto, Dihlabeng and Mangaung. Of these Local Municipalities, all except Mangaung borders Lesotho. Mangaung borders Mantsopa that is on the border of Lesotho. The Veterinary Services of South Africa and Lesotho therefore decided to join hands over 2013 World Rabies Week, and have a joint rabies vaccination and education campaign.
South Africa will be donating rabies pamphlets and 20 000 animal rabies vaccine doses to Lesotho to assist with the rabies campaign that will take place in both countries across the border simultaneously.
Remember that if you do get bitten or scratched by an animal you suspect to have rabies, to immediately wash the wounds with lots of water and soap for about 10 minutes and to then immediately go to your nearest clinic. Post exposure prophylaxis given by your nearest clinic can save your life if you got bitten by an animal with rabies!
Do your part during World Rabies Week and protect yourself and your children against rabies by taking your pets to your nearest private or state veterinarian to be vaccinated against rabies! By having your pets vaccinated against rabies, you can protect your pets and yourself against this disease!
For media enquiries please contact:
Steve Galane
Acting Chief Director: Stakeholder Relations and Communication
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Tel.: (012) 319 7960
Cell: 083 635 7346
E-mail: SteveGAL@daff.gov.za
