Residents and travelers should be on high alert for rabies virus

Posted by Tsoku Maela on 22 December 2022

Rabies is a serious viral infection that causes dangerous neurological symptoms that eventually lead to death. And it can be passed from infected animals to humans.

Residents and travelers should be on high alert for deadly Rabies virus

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has warned local residents and holidaymakers to be alert in rabies high-risk areas. The four areas are KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Included in the list is the border between the Free State and Lesotho.

‘The coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape are a particularly high risk for rabies. The public is advised not to approach, touch or pick up stray dogs and cats from these areas for whatever purpose,’ warned the department.

Although the department has warned of these key regions they have also stated that ‘rabies may occur anywhere in South Africa’ and urged residents to avoid handling animals that they do not know.

‘When picking up stray animals and homing them, you could aid the spread of rabies to other areas and provinces and put your life and that of your family at risk.’

Signs and symptoms of an infected animal

  • Changes in behaviour, but it varies widely from unprovoked attacks to overly friendly or simply appearing sleepy.
  • They may drool a lot due to not being able to swallow
  • Weak and unresponsive.

The rabies virus is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal when it bites, scratches or licks a person. In animals and humans, the disease affects the brain and once clinical signs become visible, there is no curative treatment, and it is fatal. The National Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases (NICD) recorded 19 laboratory-confirmed human rabies cases in South Africa, of which one was fatal as of 14 December 2021.

The cases are from Eastern Cape (9), KwaZulu-Natal (6) and Limpopo (4) provinces. In addition, four probable rabies cases were reported from KwaZulu-Natal (3) and the Eastern Cape (1) provinces.

Picture: Getaway gallery

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