No Zululand rabies cases reported last week
The threat is still very real and the public needs to be aware of animals showing symptoms of rabies
WHILE media focus has been on the Covid-19 virus over the last few weeks, the other virus responsible for many deaths in the world, rabies, has gone off the radar.
The threat is still very real and the public needs to be aware of animals showing symptoms of rabies.
Frothing at the mouth and unusual behaviour towards people are two symptoms of rabies.
There have been no rabies cases reported for the week 4 to 17 April, but a spike in cases in the eThekweni Metro is concerning.
Six dogs, of which two were puppies, were found to be positive in Doonside, Illovo, Malagazi, Umlazi and Chatsworth.
The only other case in KZN was in Umzumbe in the Ugu district.
The Eastern Cape reported two puppies from a litter of four with rabies in Nyandeni (OR Tambo district), while a dog and a goat were tested positive in Ngemawe at Mbhashe (Amathole district).
In the Alfred Nzo District a dog and a cow were found to be positive.
What to do
In the event of a bite or scratch from any mammal, wash the wounds with running water and soap for 10 minutes.
This is important to assist in killing the virus in the wounds.
It is important to see a doctor or go to a hospital for a course of four vaccinations.
If a local clinic does not have vaccine, ask them to find out which clinic has stock.
If bitten, injections of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) into the wound are also required.
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