The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued a public warning confirming the outbreak, especially in the Lanseria and Muldersdrift area.

Dr Malcolm de Budé, chief director of Veterinary Services and Sustainable Resource Management, said rabies is a disease affecting the brain and can lead to the death of the person or animal involved.

“Symptoms vary widely and include behavioural changes, aggressiveness and paralysis,” he explained.

Symptoms can occur from seven days to six months after being affected with the virus.

“The virus occurs in great numbers in the saliva of rabid (infected animal showing symptoms of rabies) animals. Avoid touching or caressing a strange, wild, injured or sick animal.” he warned.

It is compulsory for all dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies. All dogs and cats over the age of three months that have not been vaccinated for rabies within 30 days must be vaccinated.

“The public can choose between having the vaccination of their pets done by their private veterinarian or by the state. Any animal which has not been vaccinated should immediately be taken to a veterinarian or the SPCA for a health check and to be vaccinated,” de Budé concluded.

Nigel SPCA also called on residents to vaccinate their pets as soon as possible, by visiting a local veterinarian. Rabies has an incubation period of up to nine months. An animal can have rabies, but that the symptoms won’t necessarily show for up to nine months.

It is important to immediately take precautionary action.