Page 31 - The Villager September 2021
P. 31

Health & Wellness



           cord and brain, the animal will become
           paralysed and will eventually die.
             In  humans,  the  initial  symptoms
           include muscular pain, fever, fatigue,
           loss of appetite and dizziness.  The
           victim  becomes  hydrophobic  (fearing
           water) and begins to hallucinate. If the
           infection was via a wound, a feeling
           of pins and needles may be felt at the
           site of the wound. As with animals, the
           victim will have difficulty swallowing
           and   will  experience  excessive
           salivation, resulting in drooling.  The
           pupils become dilated, the victim
           becomes irritable and aggressive, and   Black-backed Jackal
           there’s a feeling of anxiety and mental                                                              NEL BOTHA
           confusion.  There may be nausea and
           vomiting, as well as headaches and
           a stiff neck.  This will be followed by
           seizures. In the final stage, the victim
           will sink into a coma and die.


           TREATMENT
           If a person is wounded by a rabid animal,
           immediate treatment is essential. Firstly,
           the wound must be thoroughly cleaned
           with soap and water and flushed out
           with  water  for  10  -  15  minutes  before
           the disinfectant is applied. Then medical
           intervention must be sought in the form
           of firstly an immunoglobulin  injection
           administered straight away, followed
           by a course of rabies vaccinations to
           prevent the disease from progressing.


           HOW WORRIED SHOULD I BE           It is mandatory for all dogs to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of rabies  RABIESALLIANCE.ORG
           ABOUT AN OUTBREAK?
           To be honest, when I chatted to our   DO NOT TRY TO CATCH RABID    vaccination card with you as proof
           local vet about the NICD’s report that   ANIMALS                   that the vaccinations are up to date.
           there had been three people in the   If you see an animal behaving strangely   This is especially important if you are
           Cradle of Humankind area that had   and drooling excessively, do not try to   planning  to go to  KZN, the  Eastern
           been bitten by rabid animals in June/  interact with it or catch it. Warn anyone   Cape, Mpumalanga or Limpopo
           July, he was actually quite blasé about   close by that the animal may have rabies,   Province, as the incidences of rabies
           the incidents, saying that rabies tends   and try to either take a video or photo of   in these areas are higher than in
           to come and go in cycles. Obviously, as   the animal. Make a note of the location   Gauteng.
           I was there to have him give my puppy   and notify the nearest vet.  Remember, it is mandatory for all dogs
           her  booster  vaccination,  he  was  quite                         and cats to be vaccinated against rabies.
           relaxed about it but I’m not so sure that   WHAT ABOUT TAKING MY PET ON   Ignoring this regulation is seen as a
           the woman with her baby on her back,   HOLIDAY TO OTHER PROVINCES?  public health risk and is considered to be
           who was bitten by a rabid honey badger   If you are planning to take your furkid   a transgression of the law.
           while walking along the Kromdraai   on holiday with you, ensure that its   For more information, visit:
           road, would agree. Fortunately, it was   vaccinations are up to date before   www.nicd.ac.za/rabies-reported-from-
           reported that she was treated timeously.  you go – and make sure you take its   west-rand-gauteng-province


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