Three East Cape children dead from rabies so far
A nine-year-old Motherwell boy was not the only child to die from canine rabies in the province, with two other deaths reported in the Buffalo City Metro (BCM) in the past two months.
The province’s death toll, since late-June, now stands at three, with the health department this week confirming the deaths of a seven-year-old boy on June 29 and a five-year-old girl on August 3.
As the families of the three children try to come to terms with their deaths, vets and doctors have urged the public to be on the alert for deranged and aggressive animals, and to vaccinate their pets and livestock.
The children were all bitten by rabid dogs, Eastern Cape health department superintendent-general Dr Rolene Wagner said yesterday.
Veterinarian Dr Roger Davies said canine rabies had since spread to the East London area.
Davies, of Wild Coast Vet in Chintsa, said he had noted a surge in Buffalo City of positive rabies cases across a variety of animals, mainly in dogs, cats and cows. He said it was extremely worrying as the infection was deadly to people and animals.
“It is very important that we spread the word about this current outbreak and protect the community,” Davies said.
He said rural children often died from rabies because of a lack of awareness and being too far from immediate medical attention.
In Motherwell in Gqeberha last week, Owam Bhuti died after contracting canine rabies.
Wagner said the seven-yearold boy, meanwhile, had been bitten at Xhora on May 24, admitted to Zithulele Hospital on June 26 and died on June 29.
The five-year-old girl, from Biko Location in Reeston, had been bitten by a dog on July 9, taken to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital on July 27 and died on August 3.
Commenting on little Owam’s tragic death, Wagner said a delayed presentation to the hospital had been a con
tributing factor.
“The child had a history of having received the first of three doses of anti-rabies vaccine but a delayed presentation to the hospital was a contributory factor,” she said.
Wagner urged people bitten by a suspected rabies-infected animal to seek medical attention immediately.
She said there was a 100% certainty of death if rabies was left untreated.
Rural development and agrarian reform spokesperson Masiza Mazizi said the situation was stable.
He said it was expected that from time to time there would be a flare-up or outbreaks.
Further outbreaks had been picked up in the Ngcobo, Mhlontlo and King Dalindyebo municipalities.
Buffalo City municipal spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said all dog bites needed to be regarded as rabies-infected until proved otherwise.
Dogs showing signs of unnatural aggression were being put down and specimens sent to the laboratory for full testing, Ngwenya said.
Municipalities and vets from the department of rural development and agrarian reform were, meanwhile, running a campaign across the province to vaccinate all domestic pets.
Before his death last week, Owam would aggressively throw himself against the hospital walls and windows while foaming at the mouth.
The number of known cases in the Bay is more than 70, but experts say there are far more.