adminSifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
THE SOCIETY for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has expressed fears of a rabies outbreak in the city’s western suburbs after a dog from Njube suburb tested positive to the deadly disease recently. SPCA animal health inspector Dumisani Sibanda said after testing the dog they confirmed that it suffered from rabies raising fears that it could have spread the disease to other unvaccinated dogs in the area.
“Tests made on a dog from Njube suburb a week ago confirmed that it had rabies. This indicates that they might be some unvaccinated dogs in the same area with the diseases,” he said.
He said this latest case came after the Department of Veterinary Services had completed a rabies vaccination programme in the city.
“The confirmation of the disease after the vaccination exercise means that some dog owners did not vaccinate their pets,” Sibanda said.
Sibanda said most dog owners leave them roaming around the streets, increasing their chances of contracting diseases if they are not vaccinated.
“There is no treatment for rabies. So we must prevent the disease by vaccinating our dogs,” said Sibanda.
Sibanda advised members of the public to quickly report rabid dogs to the SPCA, the Department of Veterinary Services or the nearest police station.
He said the symptoms of the disease include frothing from the mouth and salivating.
“Some dogs also start barking at nothing and being destructive,” he added.
He said dogs should be vaccinated every year for rabies and residents were free to visit SPCA or veterinary services to vaccinate their dogs.
Sibanda advised anyone bitten by a rabid dog to immediately seek medical attention so that he or she might be vaccinated within seven days before the disease reaches its incubation stage.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects warm-blooded animals and humans.
derick.khumalo