Free rabies vaccinations coming to Bethal

BETHAL – A rabies vaccination team will be in Bethal from 5 to 6 June at the Bethal Public Library.

Vaccinations are free from 10am to 6pm.

They will also be at eMzinoni from 12 to 14 June and the place of vaccination will be announced on the day.

Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in warm-blooded animals.

It is transmitted by animals most commonly by a bite from an infected animal, but occasionally by other forms of contact.

The virus is shed in the saliva of the infected animal.

About 40 percent of people who are bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years old.Rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure treatment is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms.

In South Africa, main sources of the virus are dogs, the black-backed jackal, the bat-eared fox and the yellow mongoose.

In Mpumalanga the main sources are dogs and the yellow mongoose.

Dogs or cats are the source of 99 percent of human rabies deaths, so it is very important that dogs and cats are vaccinated to decrease the risk to humans.

Young animals should be vaccinated twice in the first year and then every three years, or as often as required by your state veterinary authorities.

The vaccine is harmless and will not make your animals sick.

Notify your state veterinarian immediately if you see animals acting strangely and you suspect rabies.

Do not handle or go near strange animals, wild animals that seem tame and do not run away from you, sick animals that are not properly restrained or animals that appear aggressive.

For more information about the rabies vaccinations in Bethal and eMzinoni, contact Dr KWK Lukhele or Mr Theo Schönfeldt from the Ermelo State Veterinarian’s office during office hours at 017 8115812/3.

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