A 2-year-old Johannesburg child died of rabies after being injured by an unvaccinated domestic puppy, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Monday. "Rabies was confirmed as the cause of death in the child who died in a Johannesburg hospital just a month after being scratched in Soweto," a statement said. It was the primary confirmed human case of rabies after a "serious outbreak" of the disease in dogs in Johannesburg, it said. Rabies was confirmed in six domestic dogs in the larger Johannesburg area in the past four weeks. The influence areas were Sophiatown, Bushkoppies, Meredale, Kibler Park and Dobsonville in Soweto.
"These animals were pets that had not been vaccinated beside rabies and the source of exposure of these animals is unclear. It is likely that other dogs in close areas could also be infected." Cases of rabid domestic dogs were also confirmed in Roodepoort in May this year and in Linden final year. "Until this outbreak, the risk of rabies in Johannesburg was very low, and therefore there is partial awareness about what should be done to prevent rabies disease in humans." The NCID advise dog and cat owners to ensure that their pets had been vaccinated within the past three years.
"Human rabies could be prohibited in almost 100% of cases if correct post-exposure preventative treatment is given timeously following exposure to suspected rabid animals," the NCID said. Rabies is transmitted from impure animals to humans through scratches, bites or licks on the mucous membranes of the lips or eyes. The virus cannot be transmitting through intact skin, so touching, petting or being close to the animal is not a risk. Preventative measures include washing the wound "very well" for at slightest ten minutes with water and soap, and a route of rabies vaccinations.
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"These animals were pets that had not been vaccinated beside rabies and the source of exposure of these animals is unclear. It is likely that other dogs in close areas could also be infected." Cases of rabid domestic dogs were also confirmed in Roodepoort in May this year and in Linden final year. "Until this outbreak, the risk of rabies in Johannesburg was very low, and therefore there is partial awareness about what should be done to prevent rabies disease in humans." The NCID advise dog and cat owners to ensure that their pets had been vaccinated within the past three years.
"Human rabies could be prohibited in almost 100% of cases if correct post-exposure preventative treatment is given timeously following exposure to suspected rabid animals," the NCID said. Rabies is transmitted from impure animals to humans through scratches, bites or licks on the mucous membranes of the lips or eyes. The virus cannot be transmitting through intact skin, so touching, petting or being close to the animal is not a risk. Preventative measures include washing the wound "very well" for at slightest ten minutes with water and soap, and a route of rabies vaccinations.
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