GRAAFF-REINET | ABERDEEN NEWS — A case of rabies has been confirmed on the farm Eureka, less than 20km from Aberdeen town.

A bat-eared fox was seen last Monday behaving in an erratic and uncharacteristic manner - walking in circles, and not running away from human contact. This caused concern for the farmer, who shot the animal and took the carcass to the office of the Department of Agriculture in Graaff-Reinet.

A post-mortem examination was performed, and a specimen sent to the Allerton Laboratory in Pietermaritzburg. On Wednesday the results were received, confirming that the animal had rabies.

Members of the Aberdeen Farmers’ Association were immediately contacted by secretary Colleen Ogilvie through their Whatsapp group, and vaccines were made available for the dogs and cats on the farms in the area.

Two hundred doses were delivered to Aberdeen, which was collected by local farmers on Friday – unfortunately, this was insufficient, so more were brought to the town on Monday by animal health technician Busisiwe Saba.

Saba explained that pets in Lotusville and Thembalesizwe had been inoculated last September as part of an ongoing campaign to give annual vaccinations, but animals in the town could be vulnerable.

Thus an arrangement has been made to provide free vaccination against rabies for dogs and cats in Aberdeen this Thursday, June 22. This will be available outside the Watermeyers’ home at 2A Darling Street from 2pm. Owners are requested to bring their ID when they bring their animals.

So far, no other cases have been confirmed, but there is a suspected case on a neighbouring farm for which results are expected any time. Animals on those farms near the confirmed case will receive a second round of inoculations after two months.

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