Officials and vets to meet today

VETERINARIANS are warning of a serious outbreak of rabies in Windhoek if drastic measures are not taken soon.

This horrific disease not only kills animals, but is deadly to humans too. A rabies outbreak would be a nightmare to contain and every effort should be made to prevent it from happening, says Dr Ulf Tubbesing of the Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic in Windhoek.An unusually high number of dogs with rabies have been reported to veterinary clinics in Windhoek in the last week.A meeting between the Municipality, the State Veterinary Service, the SPCA and various private and State veterinarians will be held in Windhoek today to come up with a strategy to prevent a mass outbreak.The Windhoek Veterinary Clinic has three confirmed cases of rabies and three that still need to be confirmed.The Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic has four confirmed cases.The SPCA has so far confirmed six cases, has two dogs in quarantine and is awaiting confirmation in another case.One person has been bitten by a rabid dog while waiting in a veterinarian’s rooms in Windhoek.There has been a definitive increase in rabies cases among dogs since the beginning of the month, says Dr Simone Mettler, the veterinarian at the SPCA.She says irresponsible pet owners who don’t have their pets vaccinated are mainly to blame.The State Veterinary Service vaccinates dogs free of charge but many people are not aware of this.Veterinarians say because of a lack of awareness campaigns, pet owners do not realise the seriousness of rabies and the need to have their pets vaccinated.It is of vital importance that pets are vaccinated against rabies once a year and pet owners are urged to take their pets for vaccinations as soon as possible to help prevent a serious outbreak.People who have been exposed to an animal suspected to be rabid should immediately and thoroughly wash the skin with soap and water.After that, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible, as treatment is only effective before a person falls ill.No animal or person has ever survived the disease once the symptoms have set in.They usually die within 10 days after the onset of symptoms.The disease is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals – usually through bite wounds, but any contact with infected saliva is dangerous.Rabies attacks the nervous systems of all mammal species, and causes behaviour changes in animals.Domestic animals become wild and aggressive, while wild animals often appear tame and friendly.Other symptoms are drooling, a staggering gait or paralysis.A rabies outbreak would be a nightmare to contain and every effort should be made to prevent it from happening, says Dr Ulf Tubbesing of the Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic in Windhoek.An unusually high number of dogs with rabies have been reported to veterinary clinics in Windhoek in the last week.A meeting between the Municipality, the State Veterinary Service, the SPCA and various private and State veterinarians will be held in Windhoek today to come up with a strategy to prevent a mass outbreak.The Windhoek Veterinary Clinic has three confirmed cases of rabies and three that still need to be confirmed.The Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic has four confirmed cases.The SPCA has so far confirmed six cases, has two dogs in quarantine and is awaiting confirmation in another case.One person has been bitten by a rabid dog while waiting in a veterinarian’s rooms in Windhoek. There has been a definitive increase in rabies cases among dogs since the beginning of the month, says Dr Simone Mettler, the veterinarian at the SPCA.She says irresponsible pet owners who don’t have their pets vaccinated are mainly to blame.The State Veterinary Service vaccinates dogs free of charge but many people are not aware of this.Veterinarians say because of a lack of awareness campaigns, pet owners do not realise the seriousness of rabies and the need to have their pets vaccinated.It is of vital importance that pets are vaccinated against rabies once a year and pet owners are urged to take their pets for vaccinations as soon as possible to help prevent a serious outbreak.People who have been exposed to an animal suspected to be rabid should immediately and thoroughly wash the skin with soap and water.After that, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible, as treatment is only effective before a person falls ill.No animal or person has ever survived the disease once the symptoms have set in.They usually die within 10 days after the onset of symptoms.The disease is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals – usually through bite wounds, but any contact with infected saliva is dangerous.Rabies attacks the nervous systems of all mammal species, and causes behaviour changes in animals.Domestic animals become wild and aggressive, while wild animals often appear tame and friendly.Other symptoms are drooling, a staggering gait or paralysis.