VN September 2023

Vetnuus | September 2023 8 Vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies is legislated as compulsory in Table 2 of the Animal Diseases Regulations (R.2026 of 1986). Veterinary and para-veterinary professionals are encouraged to continuously relay this message to pet owners and to put up posters to remind pet owners of the importance of rabies vaccination. 2. Rabies exposure in humans – what to advise NB – this advice can save a life!  People that have been bitten, scratched, or licked (on wounds or mucous membranes) by a suspect rabid animal, must wash the wound and wound area thoroughly with soap and running water for 10 - 15 minutes and immediately seek post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment at their nearest clinic or hospital to prevent rabies virus infection.  The attending medical officer will conduct a risk assessment to determine the category of exposure based on the type of contact with the animal (lick, scratch, bite), the situation that led to contact (e.g. provoked or unprovoked attack, known or unknown animal) and the damage inflicted (skin breached or not). PEP includes a series of human rabies vaccinations and potentially rabies-immunoglobulin therapy if the skin was breached, and any blood is visible.  NICD Hotline 0800 212 552 - for clinical advice only! This Hotline is not for use by members of the public but for healthcare workers seeking guidance on how to appropriately treat human exposures.  Clinical rabies disease in humans is a Category 1 Notifiable Medical Condition under the National Health Act (Act No. 61 of 2003), which requires immediate reporting to the health authorities. For more information on how to prevent human rabies, visit https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/rabies/. 3. What to do when faced with a suspected rabid animal  Do not allow a person that has not received adequate Pre-Exposure Rabies Prophylaxis vaccinations to handle a suspect rabid animal.  Rabies usually causes neurological disease and clinical signs in infected animals typically include abnormal behaviour or changes in behaviour (e.g., wild animals lose their fear of humans, domestic animals can become aggressive or less reactive). Other clinical signs may include hypersalivation, incoordination, paralysis, inability to swallow or drink water, abnormal or excessive vocalisation, “bone-in-throat”syndrome, etc. Atypical symptoms (e.g., fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc.) have also been reported. It is important to obtain a thorough history to not miss potential cases. An animal infected with rabies will worsen over time and will die within 10 days.  Suspected rabies cases with no or inadequate vaccination history should be euthanised and brain samples submitted in glycerol-saline solution for fluorescent antibody testing (FAT). Personal protective equipment (gloves, facemasks, eye protection, overalls) should be worn when collecting brain samples and any waste disposed of correctly, as per the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008).  South Africa has two South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) accredited and national Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) approved laboratories that test for rabies, namely the ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR) and Allerton Provincial Veterinary Laboratory. Ensure that the sample submission form is fully completed! This is crucial for disease investigation and reporting purposes.  Rabies is a controlled animal disease in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984) and any suspected case in domestic animals or wildlife must be immediately reported to the local State Veterinary Office. The State Veterinary Officials Figure 3: Basic rabies vaccination protocol for cats and dogs – see article text for more detail. Article