Rabies remains a serious but preventable disease that affects farmers, farm workers, domestic livestock, pets, and surrounding communities. To reduce the risk on farms, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms of virus transmission, be able to recognize potential danger signs, and maintain regular vaccination.
As part of the celebration of World Rabies Day, Food For Mzansi conducted an interview with Dr. Didi Klassen, a representative of the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA), a veterinary pathologist, and a leader in agribusiness. She provided detailed information on rabies prevention and what farmers need to know.
Dr. Klassen explained exactly how rabies spreads in a farming environment, what precautions should be taken when dealing with suspicious cases, emphasized the importance of vaccination, and dispelled common misconceptions that can endanger people and animals.
She also highlighted the necessity of adopting a 'one health' approach, where farmers, veterinarians, healthcare workers, and the public all play a role in preventing this disease.
During the conversation, the question was asked about what rabies is, how it typically enters and spreads in agricultural environments, and which animals are most often involved in transmitting rabies in South Africa. Dr. Didi Klassen explained that rabies is a viral disease that primarily affects mammals. The virus is transmitted when infected saliva reaches another person or animal through a bite, scratch, or mucous membrane.
The most significant animal in the spread of rabies among humans is the domestic dog. However, wild animals such as jackals and mongooses are also involved in rural areas, which can infect cattle, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, and cats. Similar risks exist for dogs or cats themselves upon contact with other animals of the same species. In South Africa, dogs and cats pose the greatest threat to human health, so they must remain the main focus.
The issue of safe ways to examine or handle an animal suspected of having rabies was raised. The expert advised using personal protective equipment (PPE) without fail: gloves, overalls, apron, mask, and safety glasses or visor. It is best to observe the suspicious animal and immediately notify a state veterinarian, the police, or an animal welfare organization to handle the animal, as its behavior may be unpredictable. If the animal has been killed, the aforementioned PPE must be worn, everything must be packed in three layers of bags, and the equipment must be thoroughly washed and disinfected after the procedure.
The question of the importance of routine vaccination of domestic dogs and cats, and whether agricultural animals should also be vaccinated, was also discussed. In South Africa, vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies is mandatory, as it is the best way to protect people and animals. In high-risk areas where cases of rabies in cattle are frequently recorded, such as in the North West province, a farmer can obtain a vaccine for their herd from a veterinarian to include it in livestock vaccination programs, considering contact with wildlife.
Some common myths about rabies that can endanger farmers or farm workers were listed. These include the belief that it is exclusively a disease of wild animals (although dogs and domestic livestock also suffer); the opinion that vaccination slows down dogs (when inactivated vaccines with minimal side effects are used); the conviction that animals are always aggressive (since some animals have a dull appearance and may look normal); and the mistaken idea that wild animals become tame, and tame ones become wild (in reality, wild animals do not become tame, but they may lose fear of humans, and domestic animals can become very aggressive, but they can also be very gentle).
Furthermore, there is a dangerous misconception that medical help should only be sought after the onset of rabies symptoms, which is categorically false, as people die in 99.9% of cases after symptoms appear.
World Rabies Day serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about this issue. Rabies prevention is viewed as a 'one health' problem affecting farmers, veterinarians, public health authorities, and local communities. Every participant plays a role: pet owners must take their pets for vaccination, and livestock owners must know about the need for additional vaccination in high-risk areas.
The veterinary sector is involved in vaccinating animals to prevent diseases and investigating suspected rabies cases to determine the need for post-exposure treatment for involved people. Medical specialists help classify wounds and cooperate with veterinarians in assessing risks to determine the necessary treatment and its administration. With active participation from all parties, human deaths from canine rabies can be eradicated by 2030.