Although each province will have its own World Rabies Day campaigns, the Directorate Animal Health has decided to focus its attention on the Free State during this time.
In June 2013, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported two cases of human rabies in Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu, both of which are in the Mangaung local municipality. In addition, in 2012, animal rabies cases were reported in the municipalities of Mohokare, Mantsopa, Setsoto, Dihlabeng and Mangaung, which lie on the border with Lesotho.
For this reason, the veterinary services of SA and Lesotho have decided to join hands during this year’s World Rabies Week, with a joint rabies vaccination and education campaign.
SA will donate rabies pamphlets and 20 000 animal rabies vaccine doses to Lesotho.
Remember – by having your pets vaccinated against rabies, you can protect you and them against this disease!
