Get your pet vaccinated
In 2020, a total of seven cases of human rabies was laboratory confirmed in South Africa, six of which originated in the KZN.
Rabies is a contagious viral disease spread by infected animals.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, it is a zoonotic disease, meaning it’s a disease which can be transmitted from animals to people.
Rabies is a dreaded disease for humans and warm-blooded vertebrates, transmitted by the bite of an infected animal, most commonly dogs.
The virus is present in the saliva of an infected person or animal.
Most fatalities have involved patients in whom treatment was delayed, or who failed to receive immunoglobin, or the full course of the vaccine, or who had other underlying diseases.
In a report issued by the National Institute For Communicable Diseases, titled ‘An update on rabies in South Africa’ published in January this year, it says that a case of rabies has recently been confirmed in KwaZulu-Natal.
A 10-year-old boy was reported to have been bitten by a dog in Umbumbulu, southwest of eThekwini, in November last year.
No medical consultation was sought until the child experienced nausea, vomiting, confusion and restlessness. Sadly, he died on January 7.
Rabies virus antigen was detected in a post-mortem brain specimen collected on January 12.
In 2020, seven cases of human rabies were laboratory-confirmed in South Africa, six in KZN and one in Limpopo.
This compares to 10 laboratory-confirmed human cases in 2019.
In addition, three children were identified in 2020 who had dog bites/exposure and died of clinically compatible rabies disease.
These cases could not be confirmed in the laboratory and were classified as probable cases, one each in KZN, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
With this in mind, it is vitally important to get your pets – notably cats and dogs – vaccinated.
Here are the following dates, venues and times for the Umdoni and lower South Coast areas:
UMDONI
Monday, March 1
Elysium, entrance park: 8am to 9.30am.
Long Beach, reception parking: 10am to 11.15am.
Koel Waters, complex park: 11.30am to 2.30pm.
Tuesday, March 2
Sezela, school park: 8am to 10am.
Ifafa, near sports field: 11am to 1pm.
Esperanza, Agriculture ward offices: 2pm to 4pm.
Wednesday, March 3
Bazley, caravan park: 8am to 10am.
Pennington, tea garden: 11am to 3.30pm.
Wednesday, March 10
Park Rynie, Pillay Stores Park Space: 8am to 11am.
Umzinto, sports field: 12pm to 3pm.
Thursday, March 11
Scottburgh, flea market: 8am to 11.30am.
Shayamoya, community hall: 1pm to 3pm.
Friday, March 12
Gandhi Nagar, community hall: 8am to 1pm.
Adam’s Chrest (Kelso), near creche: 2pm to 3pm.
LOWER SOUTH COAST
Monday, March 8
Port Edward Library: 8.30am to 12.30pm.
Munster Motors Garage: 1.30pm to 3pm.
Tuesday, March 9
Glenmore Supermarket: 8.30am to 10.30am.
Munster Protection Services: 11am to 12.30pm.
Greenhart Supermarket: 1.30pm to 3pm.
Wednesday, March 10
7th Heaven Superette Café: 8.30am to 10am.
Marina Beach Library: 10.30am to 12.30pm.
Impenjati Town Board Office: 1.30pm to 2pm.
Thursday, March 11
Ramsgate Beach Parking: 8.30am to 12pm.
Rodolo Park, Cnr Lawenski Drive and Leonhard Road, Margate Ext3: 1pm to 2pm.
Friday, March 12
Margate Hibiscus Mall: 8.30am to 12pm.
New Life Ministries Church: 1pm to 3pm.
Monday, March 15
Uvongo Civic Centre: 8.30am to 11.30am.
Shelly Beach Library/Clinic: 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
Tuesday, March 16
Oslo Beach Gazelle Centre, (Old State Vet Office): 8.30am to 11.30am.
Port Shepstone Borough Grounds: 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
Wednesday, March 17
Albersville White City Hall: 8.30am to 11.30am.
Woodpecker cul-de-sac: 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
Thursday, March 18
Cnr Dairy Road and Cnr Friesland Road: 8.30am to 12pm.
Lions Grove Solly Store: 1pm to 2.30pm.
Friday, March 19
Marburg Library: 8.30am to 11.30am.
Merlewood DSB: 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
Monday, March 22
Southport Beach parking area: 8.30am to 12pm.
Tuesday, March 23
Melville Beach parking: 8.30am to 10am.
Umzumbe Month Hall: 10.30am to 12pm.
Mthwalume Post Office: 1pm to 3pm.
Wednesday, March 24
Hibberdene Library: 8.30am to 12pm.
Thursday, March 25
Umtentweni Town hall: 8.30am to 12pm.
Sea Park, Alfred Evans Hall: 1pm to 3pm.
For enquiries contact Kagiso Moses at 076 9482618 or Z Petshula at 076 9482227.
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