THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will conduct free rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats throughout north Durban from Monday, October 17 to Friday, October 28.
The department added, it is compulsory for all domestic pets to be vaccinated against rabies, and failure to do so is illegal and a public health risk.
Animal health technician with the department, Titus Letsoalo, encouraged pet owners to vaccinate their animals during the week.
Also Read: Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease
“It is compulsory for all domestic pets to be vaccinated against rabies, and failure to do so is illegal and a public health risk. This free vaccination campaign is also important to drive awareness campaigns to inform the public about rabies. Most rabies infections occur through animal bites, but scratches or licks on broken skin are also possible routes of infection.
“Signs of rabies in animals include fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering and seizures. In South Africa, there are about 10 laboratory-confirmed cases of humans succumbing to rabies per year, which is present in all provinces in the country,” he said.
Letsoalo added that rabies can be prevented by vaccinating your animals and seeking treatment immediately following contact with a suspected rabid animal.
Vaccination programme for north Durban
- Tuesday, October 18, from 09:00 to 12:00, at the playlot, corner of St Andrew’s Drive and Graham Place (Durban North).
- Wednesday, October 19, from 09:00 to 12:00, at the corner of Malacca Road and Rinaldo Road (Glen Hills).
- Thursday, October 20, from 09:00 to 12:00, at the playlot in Adelaide Drive and Adelaide Place (Glenashley).
- Friday, October 21, from 09:00 to 12:00, at the parking lot in Danville Park on Danville Avenue (Virginia).
- Monday, October 24, from 09:00 to 12:00, at Seaton Park on Lothian Road (Rosehill).
- Tuesday, October 25, from 09:00 to 12:00, at the playlot, corner of St Kilda and High Ridge Road (Durban North).
- Wednesday, October 26, from 09:00 to 12:00, at the Japanese Gardens on Prospect Hall Road.
- Thursday, October 27, from 09:00 to 11:00, at the postbox clusters on the corner of Somerset Drive and Keynsham Drive (Somerset Park).
- Thursday, October 27 from 11:30 to 13:30 at the park and postbox clusters at Village Way and Spurwing Drive (Sunningdale).
- Friday, October 28, from 09:00 to 11:00, at the park behind La Lucia Library and La Lucia Mall on Oakleigh Avenue (La Lucia).
- Friday, October 28 from 11:30 to 13:00 at Durban View Park at the corner of Marine Drive and Durban View Road (uMhlanga).
