The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development’s veterinary service is calling on all dog owners to vaccinate their animals against rabies. The call is part of the international rabies week campaign that will be marked in the Northern Cape from 19 September under theme "helping to make rabies history".
Rabies is fatal and viral disease which is mainly transmitted to human by the bite of an infected animal as the virus is found in the saliva. The main transmitters are animals such as pets (e.g. dogs and cats), livestock (cattle, goats and sheep) and wild animals (e.g. mongoose, bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and bats). The disease causes severe symptoms in humans and is highly fatal.
Suspected cases in animals must be reported to the nearest state veterinarian or animal health technician should common symptoms such as the following be noticed:
* Behavioural changes (e.g. wild animals appear tame and domestic animals become aggressive)
* Salivation and abnormal vocalisation
* In-coordination
* Biting attacks human or other animals.
Furthermore in its efforts to educate various communities across the province about the disease the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development's veterinary service in conjunction with the Department of Education will be hosting the finals of rabies school competition on 19 September 2009. A science workshop set to discuss matters related to rabies will also be held in Upington.
Members of the media are invited to the scientific workshop on rabies, and details are as follows:
Venue: Protea Hotel (Upington)
Time: 19h00
Date: 28 September 2009
For accreditation and enquiries:
Phemelo Manankong
Cell: 072 215 7848
Tel: 053 839 7861
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Northern Cape Provincial Government
18 September 2009
Source: Department of Agriculture, Northern Cape Provincial Government http://www.agrinc.gov.za/)
