A Rabies alert was issued on Monday, 23 August for the Western Cape Province, according to information shared by the Cape Animal Medial Centre.
“We have been notified by Dr Lesley van Helden, state veterinarian epidemiology for Western Cape, that there have been two confirmed cases of rabies in the Western Cape.To avoid this spreading throughout the province, we strongly advise you to get your dog or cat vaccinated if they have not received their rabies vaccination in the last three years.Rabies is a serious disease (unfortunately often fatal) which can be transmitted from animals to other animals and to humans,” read the post on their Facebook Page.
What you need to know about rabies
- Most rabies signs are obvious within a short period of time, usually within 3 to 5 days. Once the virus causes damage to the animal’s brain, unmistakable signs begin to show quickly.
- Signs, include fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, paralysis and seizures. Aggressive behaviour is common, but rabid animals may also be uncharacteristically affectionate.
- The virus can infect any warm-blooded animal.
- The deadly virus spreads from animals to humans from the saliva of infected animals – usually through a bite.
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