An Anti Rabies Vaccination Campaign which is being spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development commenced recently across the province. This significant blitz campaign serves as a built –up programme towards the World Rabies Day that will be held on 28 September 2011.

The campaign further seeks to create awareness about this fatal but preventable disease. Rabies is a disease which people can get from animals; it is caused by a virus which affects the brain and it also causes death in most instances. The virus is shed in saliva and is spread by the bite of an infected animal.

According to the Department of Health, 543 cases of animal bites were reported in the province between April 2010 to August 2011. In all but one incident, no Rabies or any other animal diseases were contracted. In October 2010, a man died of Rabies after being bitten by a mongoose in Carnarvon.

The department is appealing to communities to vaccinate their animals and protect themselves as rabies is very dangerous disease. It is also important that dogs and cats be vaccinated to reduce the risk to people and animals. Young animals should be vaccinated twice in the first year and then every three years. The vaccine is safe and will not make your animals sick.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease which can be transferred to people from animals mainly by dogs and cats.

Rabies is caused by virus which affects the brain and causes death. The virus is also shed in saliva and is spread by the bite of an infected animal.

Signs of the disease in animals

* Changes in behavior occur in animals. Domestic animals can become wild and aggressive (They appear to be mad) while wild animals may become tame.
* Paralysis is eventually occurring, resulting in death.

How are people infected?

* People are infected when they get bitten by an infected animal because the virus is spread in the saliva.
* It is possible for people to be infected by saliva contamination of cuts, the mouth or eyes.
* Animals with rabies may appear to have something stuck in the throat as they salivate excessively. You should take care not to place your hands inside the mouth, because you can contract the disease if you get bitten or cuts on your hands are exposed to saliva.
* Infected carcasses of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and donkeys may be a health threat if these are cut open, because it is possible for people to be infected through cuts or by splashes of brain material or saliva into the eyes or mouth when cutting open the skull and handling the brain of an infected animal.

Signs of disease in people

* In people, the first sign of disease are headaches, anxiety, fever, vomiting and fear of water. Finally paralysis, coma and death occur.
* It takes normally two to three weeks for people and animals to show signs of the disease after being bitten by an infected animal.
* Once people or animals actually show signs of rabies no treatment is possible and they will die.

Source: Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Mr. Phemelo Manankong –External Communications Officer

Tel no: 053 839 7881

Cell no: 071 889 5112