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A donkey which bit people has been put down. (Paula Sierra/Getty Images)
If you were bitten by a donkey in Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear) in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, you should urgently get medical treatment for rabies.
Provincial government officials are trying to find people who were attacked by the donkey in the area on Wednesday, after the animal behaved aggressively, exhibited signs of rabies and bit several people, including a child.
According to the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, police euthanised the donkey after state veterinarians were unable to due to its aggression.
“[The department] is urging anyone who may have been bitten by the donkey, suspected of being infected with rabies, in Nqanqarhu to come forward and get rabies post-exposure prophylaxis,” the statement read.
Dr Chanelle Kyle, a state veterinarian in Elundini, said: “The animal was clearly suffering and posed a risk to the community at large.”
“The local clinic confirmed that at least two individuals had presented to the clinic with bite wounds from the donkey. One of which is a young child. We also received an unconfirmed report that an individual was hospitalised. The (Maclear) hospital has also been contacted and informed about the situation,” said Kyle.
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The department added that several reports indicated that more people were bitten by the donkey, but that they did not seek medical treatment.
Test samples taken from the donkey have been sent to a laboratory.