Friday, 30 December 2011

Bonkers bovine on the rampage

Rabies has been pinpointed as the cause of the strange behaviour exhibited by a cow in the eShowe district in the week before Christmas. The aggressive cow was causing pandemonium as it chased passersby and anyone who approached it. Other behaviour included salivating, bellowing, not grazing, not drinking water and showing signs of coming on heat. The animal died on 21 December and lab results showed positive for rabies. According to State Vet Johan Blignaut the farmer had been unable to locate bite marks on the animal, which is how cows are usually infected.

However, Blignaut explained that if the animal had been bitten on its back leg, for example, the virus could have taken up to six months to reach the animal’s brain, in which time the wound would have healed. Some people were in contact with the saliva and are receiving preventative treatment. Two other rabies cases in December included two adult goats, one in the Nkandla district and the second about 20km north of Empangeni. According to Blignaut, Empangeni and eShowe are the two areas of greatest concern in the uThungulu district. ‘We will be conducting large campaigns in these areas next year to get every possible dog vaccinated.’

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