By Robyn Joubert
Farmers should be vigilant of rabies, with a rabies epidemic putting their families, livestock, wildlife and pets at risk. The rabies virus is transmitted via the saliva of infected mammals, and once clinical signs appear, it is nearly 100% fatal.
Most human rabies cases in South Africa are associated with infected domestic dogs, making an annual rabies vaccination programme for pets vital, particularly in regions where the disease is prevalent.
“The importance of animal vaccination extends beyond individual pet health. When we consider viruses that carry a high risk of mortality, like rabies, vaccination is unquestionably the best option for protection. Research indicates that achieving a 70% vaccination rate in a given area’s canine population could lead to the complete elimination of this deadly disease,” said Dr Michelle Enslin, Regional Product Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim.
Rabies is spread through bites, scratches and licks and can infect any mammal: from humans, dogs, cats and cattle to foxes, jackals, mongoose, antelope and seals.
Livestock, including cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and goats, are at risk if they come into contact with an infected animal, resulting in financial losses for the farmer and death within two to 10 days for the animal.
In humans, immediate medical attention and the prompt administration of a rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent infection. However, once symptoms appear, there is no treatment and it is almost always fatal.
In 2024, a number of human deaths occurred after contact with infected dogs, and an outbreak of rabies occurred in the Western Cape’s Cape fur seal population. This lead to the release of a joint rabies alert in November from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Department of Health, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
“Even though rabies occurs in all nine provinces of South Africa, rabies in dogs is common in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Rabies has been found in Cape fur seals and is known to travel along the coastlines of Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape (up to Algoa Bay),” the alert said.
The rabies vaccine works by priming the immune system to recognise and combat the virus before it causes illness.
“The current rabies outbreak is largely attributed to insufficient vaccination coverage in the canine population. A major roadblock, however, is the lack of access to vaccines in certain areas. While veterinary clinics in major cities provide ready access to vaccines, rural and impoverished communities often face limited access to primary animal healthcare, including vital vaccination services. This disparity highlights the need for continued efforts to expand veterinary services and vaccine accessibility across all communities,” said Dr Enslin.
Recognise the signs
- Rabies infects the brain, causing confusion and aggressive or abnormal behaviour in animals.
- Domestic animals can become suddenly aggressive or appear confused
- Wild animals lose their fear of people, approaching them and sometimes attacking.
- Other signs include excessive drooling, struggling to swallow, twitching, paralysis, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea.
- Animals may continuously vocalise (barking, whining, howling, bellowing), or they may appear weak and comatose.
How to prevent rabies infection
- Keep pets vaccinated throughout their lives.
- Keep dogs under control or on a leash when outside your property.
- Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
- Ask for rabies vaccinations from your local state veterinarian, animal health technician, private veterinarian or animal welfare organisation.
- Report any suspected cases of animal rabies to your local state veterinary office, local welfare authority, wildlife rescue centre, Protected Areas Management Authority or the police.
- If a person is bitten, scratched or licked by an animal suspected to have rabies, wash the wound well with soap and running water and immediately seek urgent treatment at the nearest clinic or hospital.
For further information about rabies, visit the NICD website
Signs of rabies in different animals
| Domestic dogs | Change in temperament, attacking and biting anything (often injuring mouth and breaking teeth), exaggerated responses to sound and light, restlessness, nervousness, snapping at imaginary flying insects, disorientation, wandering aimlessly, a fixed stare, drooling saliva, hoarse howling, choking sounds, “bone in throat” syndrome, febrile reactions, uncoordinated actions and progressive paralysis, dilated pupils, irritability, photophobia, infliction of self-injury, convulsions, and muscle spasms. |
| Domestic cats | Generally aggressive, uncoordinated, frothing, muscular tremors, dilated pupils, staring, a threatening posture, abnormal vocalisation, lack of response to owners, unprovoked attacks, biting (sometimes without releasing grip), convulsions, paralysis, coma, hiding away, some cats appear unusually affectionate and purr, or extend and retract their claws. |
| Cattle | Several animals may have clinical signs at the same time, a typical hoarse bellow, aggressive particularly on provocation, vicious attacks on inanimate objects, biting other cattle, attacking humans, wind-sucking, “bone in throat” syndrome, separate themselves from rest of herd, anorexia, knuckling of fetlocks especially hind limbs, swaying gait, tail and posterior limb paralysis, jaw and tongue paralysis, profuse salivation, dragging hooves, pseudo-oestrous, hypersexual behaviour, decreased milk production, dilated pupils, fixed stare, grinding teeth, pica, tenesmus with diarrhoea, frequent urination, loss of condition, and emphysema. |
| Sheep/Goats | Symptoms resemble those of cattle but hypersexual behaviour, sexual excitement, incessant bleating, aggression, aimless running, pawing and paddling, and grinding of teeth are prominent. |
| Horses | Febrile reactions, altered behaviour, biting of wound site, aggression, thrashing, paralysis and inability to swallow. |
| Pigs | Hiding in corners of the pen, hypersexual behaviour, aggression, biting and may kill offspring. |
| Wild animals | Often lose fear of humans. |
| Mongoose | Yellow mongoose generally demonstrate tame behaviour, but some are very aggressive. |
| Antelope | Kudu salivate profusely, may be paralysed, docile, tame, even entering houses. Duiker are sometimes very aggressive. |
