Today our guest is Dr Alison Lubisi research team manager of the Diagnostic Services Programme at the Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Research

The intricate connection between human and animal health has come into sharp focus with the recent increase in the number of human rabies cases reported in South Africa.

• Rabies is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, but the National Institute for Communicable Diseases says that unlike most other vaccine-preventable diseases, rabies vaccines can be given for both pre- and post-exposure to rabies.
• Dr Lubisi a veterinarian, virologist and former reviewer of vaccine dossiers says Dogs and cats must get regular rabies shots by law as rabies is endemic in South Africa with horrific cases in humans, with rabid dogs biting small children.
• Certain vaccines are optional, but the core vaccines are mandatory for dogs and cats every year.
• Similarly, livestock farmers and owners of companion and performing animals such as horses must vaccinate against controlled animal diseases such as brucellosis, foot-and-mouth disease and African horse sickness, as applicable to them by law.
• Farmers must also vaccinate against economically important infectious diseases that are prevalent in their geographic areas and those that are common for their production systems.