The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform aims to reach a ten-thousand mark of rabies vaccination, after vaccinating 9 891 pets for rabies disease in the Province.
The vaccinated pets include 8 565 dogs, 1 321 cats, three ovine and two suricata.
The vaccination campaign is part of government’s efforts to take veterinary services to various communities, even to the far flung areas Province, using mobile animal clinics.
It also seeks to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on human and animals, especially those who were denied primary animal health services in the past.
Today, 28 September 2022, the Department will join the world in celebrating the World Rabies Day at the Ikhutseng hall yard (near Warrenton) by vaccinating dogs and cats- under the theme: “Rabies: One Health, Zero Death.”
MEC Mase Manopole has called on the community of Magareng to use the opportunity and take their animals in for vaccination.
“I have given our veterinary unit a target of 10 000 rabies vaccination for the current financial year- and we are on course to achieve it. Since the beginning of the year our animal doctors have been on the ground during our outreach programs, knocking at the doors of our communities seeking to vaccinate their pets,” said MEC Manopole.
“We are embarking on this massive vaccination drives in order to eliminate the disease not only in the Province, but globally. We are on a quest to unite all people, organizations, and stakeholders against rabies- because it is a fatal, but preventable viral disease that cause thousands of human deaths per year, worldwide. In the Province we have not had any human death for the last 11 years, and this gives us the courage to do more,” she said.
Rabies is a disease that affects the brain and leads to the death of the person or animal involved. It is primarily transmitted from the infected animal’s saliva when it bites or scratches someone.
The symptoms of the disease in animals vary widely and may include – behavioral change, aggression, salivation, paralysis and death.
“At this stage vaccination is the only protection against rabies, hence we encourage communities to have their pets vaccinated and also report all animal bites to the nearest clinic or healthcare facility. Vaccinating 70% of dogs allows rabies to be eradicated from a given endemic area and this is why we working so hard to reach the 10 000 vaccination target,” said MEC Mase Manopole.
MEC Manopole said by law, all dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies.
The first rabies vaccine is given at 12 weeks (3 months) of age, followed by a booster vaccination between one to 12 months later. Thereafter a booster every three years. In high risk areas, annual vaccination is strongly recommended.
“It is never too late for your pet to receive their first vaccination, followed by the booster protocol. If dogs and cats are effectively vaccinated and boosted as required, it creates a buffer of protection for humans as well as against other wildlife species that may have rabies.”
