Residents of the Letsitele area are requested to inoculate their dogs and cats against rabies following a laboratory confirmation of a case of the disease in a dog which was recently relocated from Letsitele to Lydenburg.
Free vaccinations of dogs and cats will be offered by the Tzaneen office of the State Vet at the premises of the Letsitele Post Office from 08:30 till 15:30 tomorrow, Thursday February 2.
‘The Mopani District Municipality Disaster Management Centre thus urges all residents of the area to utilise the opportunity to prevent the further spread of the disease,’ Niel Shikwambana said.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease which can affect all mammals, including humans.
In South Africa, the disease is endemic and is primarily carried by dogs and jackals in the northern areas of the country. Rabies is typically spread through the saliva-contaminated bite of an infected animal, but may also be transmitted through saliva contamination of the mucous membranes (such as through licking).
Once the virus gains entry into a new host, it spreads along the nervous system until it reaches the brain, upon which symptoms will typically appear. Behavioural changes, especially aggression and unprovoked attacks, are the most common indicator of rabies in dogs, but symptoms can vary between different species.
A paralytic, or dumb form of the disease is also recognised in which progressive paralysis and profuse salivation occur.
In animals, death typically occurs within 10 days, and five days or less in the case of humans. In humans, rapid administration of the post-exposure prophylactic treatment immediately following exposure to an infected animal is highly effective in preventing the disease from developing. Once symptoms appear however, death is inevitable.
Since rabies is a notifiable disease, the office of the State Vet must be informed of any animal suspected of being infected with the disease.
The animal will have to be euthanized and the brain preserved in order for laboratory confirmation of the disease.
The outcome of this test will guide the response which will follow. High levels of vaccination of domestic animals, particularly dogs, is required to prevent the rapid spread of the disease following a single case. Thecooperation of all residents of the Letsitele area is thus requested to prevent the further spread of the disease.
Further details can be solicited from the office of the State Veterinarian,Tzaneen at (015) 307-2800.
