KZN residents urged to vaccinate their animals against rabies

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is urging animal owners to vaccinate their animals to prevent the spread of rabies and reduce the risk of human infection and death.

-  Jyothi Laldas

Department MEC Super Zuma made the call at a commemorative World Rabies Day event in Nongoma, northern KZN recently. Emphasis during the awareness campaign was placed on domestic animal owners to take the responsibility of vaccinating their animals to prevent fatalities.

At least 15 people in KZN have died from rabies since 2021. Between January and September 2023, the province has recorded four human deaths, according to Zuma.

The majority of the fatalities occurred in eThekwini and those affected were primarily children between the ages of two and 13 years old.