Rabid horse bites Doringkop woman

A local woman was on the receiving end of a rabies scare last week when she was bitten by a horse.

Lara Mansfield, who lives on a farm near Doringkop, inland from Stanger, told the Courier she approached the horse on Monday last week thinking it was sick.

“It was lying down, which made me think maybe it had colic and then the best thing to do is try get them back up on their feet,” said Mansfield.

She said while trying to help the horse, she got too close and was bitten.

Also read: Two girls survive rabid dog attack

“Afterwards I was chatting with a family friend, a vet, about colic and she phoned back to say I should just check for rabies, though it was unlikely.”

However, the horse did in fact test positive for rabies and had to be euthanized that same day.

Mansfield as well as all her workers who had contact with the horse have since undergone prophylactic treatments so as to prevent the rabies virus from infecting them.

Rabies is a dread disease in humans and warm-blooded vertebrates, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, most commonly dogs.

The virus is present in the saliva of an infected person or animal.

In September last year a two-year-old died after contracting rabies from a dog bite.

Nkosinathi Mzimela was bitten while playing near the community standpipe near his home in the Thafeni area of Upper Tongaat.

According to his sister, Fikile, their mom was out asking for food when the incident occurred.

“After he was bitten by the dog, neighbours cleaned his wound with spirits and killed the dog,” said Fikile.

She said no one thought he had been infected as he showed no signs of pain or illness and just continued playing.

Within 14 days he started showing symptoms and one day after that he passed away.

Director veterinary services from the Department of Agriculture, Dr Themba Skhakhane has warned residents that every dog bite should be treated as a matter of urgency and the patient must get to the nearest clinic as soon possible.

“If you have ever seen someone infected with rabies, you would agree that it is a horrible way to die.”

Quintin Doidge from the state vet clinic in Stanger urged residents not to touch any stray dogs but contact the SPCA or the state vet clinic, especially if they appear to be rabid.

The state vet can be reached at 032 437 7500/4/9.

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