Pixabay (stock image)
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is calling on residents and pet owners to be vigilant and protect themselves from the outbreak of canine rabies spreading throughout the Metro.
This comes after the City received a notification of an outbreak of the virus at the end of August from the Department of Agriculture after 61 rabies specimens submitted, came back positive from testing.
NMBM Municipal Health Services Deputy Director, Dr Patrick Nodwele said the number of cases had escalated during August and September 2021.
No human cases of rabies were reported so far in the Metropolitan area, but community members and pet owners are urged to remain vigilant.
The Metro has vaccinated 5 254 dogs and 438 cats across the City to curb the virus.
Rabies occurs in domestic animals but usually originates from wild animals. It is the contact between the domestic and wild animals that result in the spread of the infection to domestic animals and subsequently to humans.
Rabies is a viral disease that is caused by a virus called Rhabdovirus.
Community members with unvaccinated pets are urged to bring the animals for vaccination per the schedule issued by the Municipality.
For a local rabies update, residents can contact the NMBM Dog Control Unit on 041 506 1743 or 066 077 173 during office hours.
