Free rabies vaccination campaign launches next week
The vaccination programme is run by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and begins on March 16.
ACCORDING to statistics, most human rabies cases in South Africa are reported in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and Limpopo.
While rabies is almost 100% fatal, it is preventable through timely and appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in humans following possible exposures. Rabies in dogs (and cats) can be controlled through vaccination.
It is for this reason that the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is embarking on its annual free rabies vaccination programmes for dogs and cats from next Monday (March 16).
The rabies virus is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal when it bites, scratches or licks a person.
Animal health technician Titus Letsoalo said they will target Durban North, Glen Hills, Glenashley and Virginia.
“Every year the residents come out in their numbers to get their pets vaccinated and we are again urging them to take note of the dates for our latest vaccination programme. It is compulsory for all domestic pets to be vaccinated against rabies, and failure to do so is illegal and a public health risk,” he said.
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