MAFIKENG MAIL – MAHIKENG: The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is on an intensive rabies public awareness and vaccination campaign across all four districts.
Veterinary Animal Health Technicians in association with the South African Animal Health Association (SAAHTA) will be vaccinating dogs and cats against the deadly rabies disease.
The campaign will reach its peak on the 28th of September which will mark the 17th World Rabies Day.
This year’s commemoration will be observed under the theme ‘All for 1, One Health for All’ which puts emphasis on the importance of equality and strengthening overall health systems by ensuring that One Health is available to everyone. Rabies is a preventable zoonotic viral disease, which is found in domestic and wild animals, and occasionally in humans. It is transmitted from animals to humans/animals through bites by infected animals. The rabies virus is found in the saliva of an infected animal. A human can be infected through broken skin or mucous membranes coming into contact with the infected animal. The Director responsible for Veterinary Services in the North West Province, Dr Langa Madyibi says the only way to prevent rabies is through vaccination.
“Pets should be vaccinated at three months of age and have their first booster between one and nine months, thereafter they must get the booster vaccinations every three years, as required by the Animal Disease Act (Act 35 of 1984),” said Dr Madybi.
Encouraging communities particularly in Mahikeng to heed the call for vaccination of their pets, the MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Desbo Mohono said it was the responsibility of each pet owner to ensure that they observe this legal requirement, more so the vaccination is done at a free cost. Mohono advised communities to look for behavioural changes in their pets like aggressiveness, dumbness, paralysis or partial paralysis, or excessive salivation, as they are common signs and symptoms of rabies.
“The World Health Organisation has estimated that 55 000 human deaths occur worldwide per year due to canine rabies, accounting for 1 death and 300 exposures every 15 minutes. Almost all human fatalities occur in developing countries with 44 percent in Africa. So, it is critical that everyone ensures that their pets are vaccinated to prevent fatalities and to seek immediate medical assistance if bitten”, urged MEC Mohono.
The following sites; Lotlhakane, Setlopo (East and West), Dithakong (East and West), Majemantso, Mosiane View, Dithwaneng, Danville, Golf View, Riviera Park, and Libertas have been identified as key vaccination areas for the World Rabies Day Campaign to be held on September 28.
