VN September 2023

Vetnuus | September 2023 4 To print or not to print, that is indeed the question I became the editor of the Vetnews just about 2 years ago. Shortly after Covid turned just about tilled every possible acre of society. Moving from a printed magazine to a digital one has not been a simple easy decision. There was a lot of deliberation and the pros and cons were thoroughly weighted up. I thus inherited a digital magazine. It has been on my mind a lot trying to come to my own conclusion as towhich format would be best for veterinarians, SAVA and the industry. Not only was I confronted by a Vet in industry who blatantly told me he would advertise if Vetnews was printed, but I also had my own ideas about it. I love paper reading, If you had a glimpse of the number of books I own… a small library. I believe a printed copy reaches further under the right circumstances, the more hands it passes through the more eyes will read what is inside. But on the other hand I am also guilty of heading up those plastic wrapped goodness “for the right time” or “when I have time”. There is the trees that we save, the cost of printing and distribution, and then there is the Post Office. Printed copies can be ordered from SAVA. I also receive a copy of the printed Vetnews every month. Then this happens. Seven copies of Vetnews in my postbox at once. This is my second batch of Vetnews’s that I received. The first batch was after our Postoffice in town closed down. I could kind of excuse them because it must have been turmoil to move and merge the postoffice with another and sort out all the outstanding mail. But not the second time. By now I would have thought they had their ducks at least in a flock. On the righthand corner you can see the cost (bulk mail) of each of the envelopes. A great cost that has to be recovered from somewhere. If you are one of the people who receive the Vetnews by mail. Please enlighten me as to your experience. Rabies Then the dreadedWhatsapp I received: “ Andriette, hope you are well. Im sorry to message you out of the blue about this. Wondering if you or Paul could help. My aunts dog was adopted from a shelter and presented with really strange symptoms after that. Is it possible to have rabies for a long period (dog) with long term symptoms or is it always quite quick progression?” My heart jerkes. I have listened to many of Dr Didi Claassen’s talk on Rabies. I even know the protocol for Post Exposure Propholaxis. Has the dog been euthanazed? Yes Was there broken skin? Yes, gran needs skin grafts That is when instinct takes over. How long ago was the attack? Yesterday My response is to immediately start with PEP and get HRIG. If the medical personnel do not want to respond to this, I will get the right people to speak to them. This happened in Pretoria. I do not have more info except that the poor Aunt is riddled with guilt and sadness but gran is doing ok. September is Rabies month. A great month to get your clients to vaccinate for Rabies. Not all areas are endemic or high risk but this is an easy preventable deadly disease. #Rabies #NoRabiesby2023 Andriette v From the Editor Editor’s notes / Redakteurs notas Andriette van der Merwe 99%Human cases result fromDog Bites One death every 15 minutes worldwide 4 out of 10 deaths are children ******************************* www.who.int/rabies/en