rabies

Animals are everywhere.
Dogs in particular...
Ceri and I went for a quiet drink at the local lodge and heard this: a local GP 's dog started howling one night a few weeks ago. The GP and one of our senior doctors(who came to assess the situation) were attacked(scratches and torn trousers) and needed rabies vaccine and immuunglobulin. The last mentioned was out of stock(os) here at the hospital, so the GP had to drive 2.5 h to the nearest private clinic for the proper treatment!
He subsequently sent the dog brain privately to Onderstepoort veterinary institution and the report has confirmed rabies...he is now very angry with the pharmasist for not vaccinating the dog as part of the routine jabs.
This event highlights the fact that our biggest threat here in Kwazulu Natal is not malaria, but howling dog disease.
On a trip to the nearest town you may encounter the following on the road: cows, donkeys, geese, chickens, goats, dogs and today I almost crushed an Igrit!
Top photo is a lilac breasted roller, one of the common encounters alongside the road...always on the telephone line. Middle photo is a Nguni group crossing the sandy road on the way to the beach. Louis is pictured with a dog.