The death of a 14-year-old girl from rabies contracted after being bitten by a stray dog late last year, has led the department of health to issue a warning urging the public to seek treatment for all dog bites.
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the teenager, who had been feeling well until the week before, was admitted to Butterworth Hospital on February 10 experiencing weakness, confusion and a fever.
Shortly thereafter she was referred to Frere Hospital’s intensive care unit where she was diagnosed with rabies encephalitis. She died while in the ICU.
Said Kupelo in a statement: “The presence of the rabies virus was confirmed on a postmortem sample by the National Institute of Infectious diseases (NICD).
“ is reported to have been bitten by a stray dog in the village of Kotana, near Nqkamakwe, at the end of November last year.
“The patient was referred from Butterworth Hospital – before being admitted to ICU, was already in the late stages of the disease, and there was unfortunately little doctors could do,” he said.
Kupelo said the department urged members of the public to take all dog bites seriously and seek care at the nearest health facility as soon as possible.
“Rabies virus is endemic in the Eastern Cape province, where it circulates in a number of wild animals. It sporadically crosses over to domestic dogs, that become rabid, and then bite humans. While rabies infection is 100% fatal, it can be prevented by appropriate wound care and vaccination.
“All dog bites need to be reported to the local animal health authorities, to allow assessment of the animal for possible rabies.
“If the health practitioner prescribes a rabies vaccination schedule, it is essential that all five doses are taken effectively within 28 days.
“Children are at the greatest risk for dog bites, and should be educated about avoiding unknown dogs,” he said.
Kupelo said people, including dog owners, should be vigilant about dog bites and give their dogs immunisations for rabies regularly.
“Dogs need to be vaccinated annually and free immunisations are available from the department of agriculture annually in September,” he said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Health warns: beware of rabid dogs
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the teenager, who had been feeling well until the week before, was admitted to Butterworth Hospital on February 10 experiencing weakness, confusion and a fever.
Shortly thereafter she was referred to Frere Hospital’s intensive care unit where she was diagnosed with rabies encephalitis. She died while in the ICU.
Said Kupelo in a statement: “The presence of the rabies virus was confirmed on a postmortem sample by the National Institute of Infectious diseases (NICD).
“ is reported to have been bitten by a stray dog in the village of Kotana, near Nqkamakwe, at the end of November last year.
“The patient was referred from Butterworth Hospital – before being admitted to ICU, was already in the late stages of the disease, and there was unfortunately little doctors could do,” he said.
Kupelo said the department urged members of the public to take all dog bites seriously and seek care at the nearest health facility as soon as possible.
“Rabies virus is endemic in the Eastern Cape province, where it circulates in a number of wild animals. It sporadically crosses over to domestic dogs, that become rabid, and then bite humans. While rabies infection is 100% fatal, it can be prevented by appropriate wound care and vaccination.
“All dog bites need to be reported to the local animal health authorities, to allow assessment of the animal for possible rabies.
“If the health practitioner prescribes a rabies vaccination schedule, it is essential that all five doses are taken effectively within 28 days.
“Children are at the greatest risk for dog bites, and should be educated about avoiding unknown dogs,” he said.
Kupelo said people, including dog owners, should be vigilant about dog bites and give their dogs immunisations for rabies regularly.
“Dogs need to be vaccinated annually and free immunisations are available from the department of agriculture annually in September,” he said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos