Beware of rabies outbreak

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“Rabies has been diagnosed in another jackal in the Muldersdrift area, as well as a cow. The cow presented with behaviour that was suggestive of rabies, such as unusual, excessive bellowing, and strange movements,” the NICD (National Institute for Communicable Diseases) said in a statement.

“This brings to five the number of jackals affected, one domestic dog and one cow.”

According to the Boksburg SPCA manager, Maggie Mudd, the society has not yet received any notifications of any confirmed cases of rabies in Boksburg.

However, the SPCA will be receiving 400 doses of the vaccine on Monday, June 13, and is happy to vaccinate any cats and dogs at the society, at no charge to the owners.

Rabies is a virus that is passed to all warm-blooded animals and humans through the saliva (bites/scratches/licks of mouth, eyes and nose) of an infected animal.

The incubation period depends on how far the bite is from the brain.

Rabies causes foaming around the mouth, abnormal appetite and battling to swallow, even though the affected animal or human is thirsty.

There are two forms of rabies – the aggressive type, where the animal or human goes ”crazy” and attacks anything that moves, and the dumb type, which normally affects wild animals and they appear to be tame.

“The rabies-infected jackals have appeared unusually tame, and persons are warned not to approach or handle these animals,” the NICD said.

q Vaccinations:

“The only way to prevent rabies is to vaccinate,” said Mudd.

Administer the first doses as early as three months of age and then a booster vaccine four months later, and another booster vaccine every three years.

If someone suspects that their animal has rabies they must immediately take the animal to the vet.

The brain of an animal/human that dies of suspected rabies will be checked for the rabies virus.

The Boksburg SPCA is situated at the corner of Kruger and Railway streets, Boksburg.