Anti-rabies drive comes to Durban
KZN agriculture officials were led by the MEC Themba Mthembu to roll out the Durban leg of the provincial anti-rabies drive.
A veterinary team vaccinated and sterilised dogs and cats in Shallcross, near Chatsworth yesterday - marking the formal launch of the campaign in eThekwini.
The department's Khaye Nkwanyana says they are giving their teams a six-month deadline.
"We managed to vaccinate more than 120 dogs in the area. Other districts were also involved in a similar campaign - districts such as iLembe, King Cetshwayo and uMkhanyakude. These are the areas where reports have come through of the outbreak of rabies. This is going to be a six-month intensive program which we believe we would have obliterated any strain of rabies in the province such that the province will be rabies free.
"Yesterday was a success. The intention was to also communicate a message to residents that anyone who gets a dog bite must immediately contact the nearest clinic or hospital," he says.
The virus has been detected in Ndwedwe, eShowe, uMshwathi and Ethekweni.
A toddler died after being bitten by a rabid dog and contracting the virus in Bhamshela, the iLembe District.