AgriCentre Building
Cnr. Dr. James Moroka and Stadium Rd
Private Bag X2039,
Mmabatho 2735
Republic of South Africa
Tel: +27 (18) 389 5719/5684
Fax: +27(18) 384 4571
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
CHIEF DIRECTORATE: CORPORATE SERVICES
DIRECTORATE: COMMUNICATION SERVICES
MEDIA RELEASE
Department intensifies its campaign on Rabies awareness and
vaccination.
Monday, 03rd September 2012
Mahikeng: The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will
during the month of September create extensive public awareness on how to control
rabies disease. The month-long campaign which started this week, will see the
department’s Veterinary Animal Health Technicians from all over the province,
vaccinating domestic animals such as dogs and cats against the deadly rabies disease.
The campaign will reach its peak on the 28th of September, when World Rabies Day will
be commemorated.
Rabies is a preventable yet fatal viral disease, which is found in domestic and wild
animals, and occasionally in humans. The rabies virus which is found in saliva of an
infected animal, is transmitted from animals to humans/animals through biting by
infected animals. Humans can be infected through the broken skin or mucous
membrane, after coming into contact with infected animal, particularly through bites,
licks and scratching.
The disease is not foreign to the North West Province, as there had been cases
reported before, which in some instances had resulted in the loss of lives.
WE BELONG
WE CARE
WE SERVE
According to the Chief Director responsible for Agricultural Support Services, Dr Poncho
Mokaila, the only way to prevent rabies is through vaccination.
Dr Mokaila says pets should be vaccinated at three months of age and have their first
booster between one and nine months, after which they must get the booster
vaccinations every three years, as required by the Animal Disease Act (Act 35 of 1984).
Encouraging communities to heed the call for vaccination of their pets, the MEC for
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Desbo Mohono said it is the
responsibility of all pet owners to ensure that they observe this legal requirement,
more so the vaccination is administered at a free cost.
Mohono advised communities to look for behavioural changes in their pets like,
aggressiveness, dumbness, paralysis or partially paralysis, or excessive salivation, as
they are common signs and symptoms of rabies.
In humans, flu-like fever, headache and fatigue which progress to involve respiratory,
gastrointestinal or central nervous system are common symptoms of infection. Signs of
hyperactivity in a furious form or paralysis are also common. Human beings die during
the first seven days of illness.
“Protect your family and other people by taking good care of your pets. Vaccination of
pets will be carried out throughout the province, and while efforts will be made to
create awareness about this campaign, I urge you to be in contact with our State
Veterinary offices in all the districts for more information on where the vaccination will
be carried out in your area", urged MEC Mohono.
#####ends
Issued by the Directorate Communication Services
Contact Person: Bonolo Mohlakoana (Ms)
082 901 2435 / 018 389 519
bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za OR mohlakoana.bonolo@gmail.com
www.nwpg.gov.za/agriculture