Rabies alert: Cape residents urged to vaccinate pets

The Cape Animal Medical Centre on Monday alerted the public of two rabies cases in the Western Cape, as confirmed by Dr Lesley van Helden, a state veterinarian.

“To avoid this spreading throughout the province, we strongly advise you to get your dog or cat vaccinated if they have not received their rabies vaccination in the last three years”, the animal centre said.

Rabies alert in Western Cape

Rabies could be fatal, and can easily be transmitted from animals to humans. A second alert posted on Tuesday reminded residents that cats are susceptible to the virus too.

Back in July, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed three humans were exposed to a rabid honey badger. In June, two cases were confirmed involving a jackal.

A rabies vaccination campaign was rolled out in Mogale City, west of Johannesburg, at the time, to curb any further infections, especially in dogs and other pets. 

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Rabies: What to do

The virus, which could potentially be fatal, can be controlled by ensuring domestic dogs and cats receive regular rabies vaccines. 

If you come across an animal showing unusual behaviour such as excessive salivating and signs of paralysis, contact your nearest veterinarian.

Do not handle animals you are unsure of. Keep in mind: animals with rabies can also appear tame. If you have been bitten or scratched, wash wounds thoroughly with soap and water.

Make sure to visit your nearest healthcare facility immediately to get treatment. Although sometimes fatal, the NICD emphasised that rabies deaths were preventable. 

Signs of an infection will manifest within three-to-five days, and signs in animals include aggression, excessive drooling, fearfulness, staggering, paralysis and seizures. The animal may also have difficulty swallowing.

While aggressive behaviour is common, rabid animals may also be uncharacteristically affectionate. The virus spreads from animals to humans via the saliva of the infected animal.

Additional reporting by Nica Richards.