In support of World Rabies Day, and as part of their local rabies prevention and education programme, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Merial South Africa, the manufacturers of the Rabisin rabies vaccine, have again partnered in sponsoring the vaccination of 500 dogs for the communities of Bez Valley and Kensington.

The sponsored rabies vaccination will take place at Bezuidenhout Park, Bez Valley from 2pm to 5.30pm on September 28.

World Rabies Day, the largest rabies education and outreach initiative, is observed on September 28 each year in 135 countries.

It aims to educate people about the risk of rabies, to promote global awareness of its prevention, and to mobilise resources to support local rabies prevention programmes.

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system.

It is transmitted to animals and humans mainly through a bite from an infected animal, but also through contamination of broken skin or mucous membranes with saliva of an infected animal.

“We chose Bez Valley and Kensington due to the low level of awareness about rabies as a disease and how it can be controlled in the areas. At times, we receive calls about humans that have been bitten by unvaccinated dogs and this requires expensive post exposure prophylaxis at the municipal clinics,” said Dr Duma Mpofu, Chief State Veterinarian: Animal Health – Veterinary Services (GDARD).