NC aims for 10 000 rabies vaccinations

RIGHT: Pet owners watch

over their animals after

vaccination and sterilisation

during the rabies vaccination

campaign.

THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform aims to reach 10 000 rabies vaccinations of pets in the Province.

Earlier this week the department, under the theme “Rabies: One Health, Zero Death”, joined the world in celebrating World Rabies Day at the Ikhutseng Hall near Warrenton and vaccinated dogs and cats.

During the celebration, MEC Mase Manopole called on the community of Magareng to use the opportunity and take their animals in for vaccination. She said that the vaccination campaign was part of the government's efforts to take veterinary services to various communities, even to the far-flung areas of Province, using mobile animal clinics.

“The campaign seeks to raise awareness regarding the impact of rabies on humans and animals, especially those who were denied primary animal health services in the past,” Manopole said.

Thus far 9 891 pets have been vaccinated against rabies in the Province, including 8

565 dogs, 1 321 cats, three ovines and two suricata.

Manopole added that she has given the veterinary unit a target of 10 000 rabies vaccination for the current financial year. “We are on course to achieve this. Since the beginning of the year our animal doctors have been on the ground during our outreach programmes, knocking on the doors of our community members seeking to vaccinate their pets.”

“We are embarking on this massive vaccination drive in order to eliminate the disease not only in the Province, but globally. We are on a quest to unite all people, organisations and stakeholders against rabies. Although it is a fatal, it is a preventable viral disease that causes thousands of human deaths per year worldwide. In the Province, we have not had any human death in the past 11 years, and this gives us the courage to do more,” she said.

What is rabies?

Manopole also described rabies disease to the community and said that it affects the brain and leads to the death of the person or animal involved. “It is primarily transmitted from the infected animal’s saliva when it bites or scratches someone.”

The symptoms in animals vary widely and may include behavioural change, aggression, salivation, paralysis and death.

“At this stage vaccination is the only protection against rabies, hence we encourage communities to have their pets vaccinated and also report all animal bites to the nearest clinic or health-care facility. Vaccinating 70% of dogs allows rabies to be eradicated from any given endemic area and this is why we are working so hard to reach the 10 000 vaccination target,” said Manopole.

Manopole emphasised that by law, all dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies.

The first rabies vaccine is given at 12 weeks (three months) of age, followed by a booster vaccination between one to 12 months later. Thereafter a booster every three years. In high-risk areas, annual vaccination is strongly recommended.

“It is never too late for your pet to receive its first vaccination, followed by the booster protocol. If dogs and cats are effectively vaccinated and boosted as required, it creates a buffer of protection for humans as well as and other wildlife species that may have rabies.”