NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Less than a week after a nine-year-old boy died from rabies, officials with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality report holding a rabies vaccination drive for pets in an effort to curb the further spread of the lethal virus.

Rabies
A canine suspected of being rabid that had been exhibiting signs of restlessness, and overall uncharacteristic aggressive behavior, which are two symptoms of rabies.
Image/CDC

On Thursday, officials from the City’s Public Health and Department of Agrarian Reform continued with the rabies vaccination at Chatty 12- Marikana.

MMC Grootboom said: “Today is a continuation of the work that started on Wednesday. We had a successful day on Wednesday as we vaccinated 198 dogs and 10 cats. We still need to reach more pets so people must please come forward when they see our teams. Let us save lives. The only way we can prevent the spread of rabies is through vaccination. We don’t want to lose anymore lives to this virus.”

Other areas that will be visited soon include, Chetty 11, Greenfields, Booysens Park and Joe Slovo. The teams operate between 9am and 3pm.

World Rabies Day 2021- Livestream event

According to the Department Agrarian Reform, 85 animals have been infected with rabies in the Eastern Cape province, with 71 cases recorded in NMB.

What to look out for in terms of incubation and symptoms of a rabies infection:

The incubation period for rabies is typically 2–3 months but may vary from 1 week to 1 year, dependent upon factors such as the location of virus in the body, the entry site, and the viral load. Initial symptoms of rabies include a fever with pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensation at the wound site. As the virus spreads through the human body to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord develops.