KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Themba Mthembu will lead a team of State veterinarians in a massive vaccination campaign to eradicate the scourge of rabies in that province.
The vaccination of dogs and cats follows the recent identification of rabies positive jackals in the Underberg area and three previously confirmed human deaths in uMhlathuze, Abaqulusi and KwaDukuza Municipalities.
The department said that it has become clear that the province of KwaZulu-Natal is experiencing an increasing epidemic that requires reinforced intervention to completely eliminate human deaths.
“It is for this reason that MEC Mthembu will join the team of State vets in a bid to heighten the awareness of the local community about rabies and the ongoing free rabies vaccination clinics simultaneously conducted by the State vets in the area and other areas,” the department said.
Since October 2017, the department has been on a massive vaccination programme, which started in Ndwedwe and Durban. The programme proceeded early this year to the rural areas of the South and North coasts.
The campaign will be launched on Thursday at Eskhaleni New Hall in Section H2. – SAnews.gov.za
