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BY REGINALD KANYANE

MORE than 2192 dogs and 112 cats were vaccinated for rabies across the province last week. The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’ spokesperson Phemelo Manankong said that rabies was a disease which affected people’s health and can cause the brain infection.

“The virus causes death in most instances and it is shed in saliva, and is spread by bite of an infected animal. The significant blitz campaign was part of celebrating International Rabies month that is been celebrated on the September every year,” Manankong said.
He said that as part of the campaign, also about 108 animals were sterilized or castrated. Manankong said that the campaign further created awareness about this fatal but preventable disease at various schools.

“The department also organised a scientific evening for medical and
veterinary related professions where Professor Lucille Blumberg and Dr Claude
Sebeta gave presentation on the testing of the disease and the medical
treatment of the patience.

“We’re appealing to communities to continue vaccinating
their animals and protect them as rabies is a very dangerous
disease. It is also important that dogs and cats should be vaccinated to
reduce the risk to people and animals.”

According to Manankong, the cases of rabies have been minimal in the province.

Manankong said that even though there were minimized cases being reported, he advised people to continue to vaccinate their animals.

“The campaign also gave three veterinary students an opportunity to get
hands-on experience and was allowed to castrate dogs under
supervision.”

-TDN

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CAPE TOWN – Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has reshuffled his “shadow cabinet”, dropping, among others, controversial MP Dianne Kohler Barnard from the police portfolio.

She’s now Deputy Shadow Minister responsible for Public Works.

Zakhele Mbhele will take over from Kohler Barnard, who hit the headlines this week over a Facebook post she shared which seemed to urge the return of former apartheid-era president PW Botha.

“In this instance I certainly didn’t think the tweet was fair or proper,” said Maimane.

“In fact it was indefensible, in fact we needed to take a decision in this regard.

“But that’s within the purview of my right as leader of the caucus in the NA,” he said.

– Africa News Agency