28 Jan 2020

Ngamiland District Health Management Team (DHMT) has recorded two fatalities classified as probable cases of rabies disease.

The cases were recorded following the declared outbreak of rabies in animals within the district.

Addressing a media conference at Maun Lodge recently, Ngami DHMT coordinator, Dr Malebogo Kebabonye confirmed that they had registered cases in which two people lost their lives, following rabies infected dog bites.

The victims, she said was a child and an elderly person.

She said one of the victims was within the Ngami DHMT jurisdiction, while the other was from Okavango DHMT jurisdiction, noting that both died upon arrival at health facilities.

She also noted that since January, DHMT had registered 14 cases of people classified as exposed to rabies and cautioned the community to see their health care professionals if bitten or scratched by an animal and before any symptoms occur. 

She explained that rabies was rare in the district, adding that the virus was transmitted through the saliva of rabid animals and generally entered the body via infiltration of virus-laden saliva from a rabid animal into a wound (e.g. scratches), or by direct exposure of mucosal surfaces to saliva from an infected animal (e.g. bites).

The virus cannot infiltrate intact skin.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease (a disease that is transmitted from animals to humans), caused by the rabies virus. Domestic dogs are the most common reservoir of the virus, with more than 99 per cent of human deaths caused by dog mediated rabies.

Dr Kebabonye revealed that they were prepared as far as drug availability was concerned, adding that they had ordered enough medication which they intended to distribute to other health facilities in the district for easy access by the communities.

She explained that people’s lives could be saved if they adhered to treatment prescribed and urged people to complete the course of vaccination, which is five days.

Rabies, she said was an fatal disease and that there was no effective curative treatment for rabies once clinical signs appear.

“If people are exposed to rabies but do not get Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) prior to symptoms starting, the disease is nearly always fatal. PEP is very effective if taken accordingly,” she stressed.

Dr Kebabonye noted that it was unfortunate as they could not screen or diagnose the human rabies until a person showed signs, but stated that they were working closely with the Department of Veterinary Services.

She stated that a person exposed to the rabies virus could develop the disease on average within 7-21 days, with latency of three months to one year, noting that the virulence of the disease is dependent on the site and depth of the wound and viral load.

In addition, she mentioned that clinical signs and symptoms often included fever, pain, unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking or a burning sensation at the wound site.

Members of the community were warned to avoid contact with stray dogs and that if they got bitten or scratched, they should wash the wound immediately with soap and water and see a health care provider.

They were advised to wash the wound for approximately 15 minutes with running water and avoid covering the wound and also to prompytly visit the nearest health facility to be evaluated and receive the anti-rabies vaccine.

Dr Odireleng Thololwane from Department of Veterinary Services noted that they were equally concerned about public health and urged members of the communities to stop eating meat from sick or dead animals as that posed a health hazard.

He appealed to the community to vaccinate their puppies at three months old, noting that rabies was 100 per cent preventable if they ensured adequate animal vaccination and control.  Dr Thololwane also revealed that they would soon embark on school visits to sensitise learners about the disease and how they could prevent it, noting that youngsters interacted with dogs most of the time.

Since the outbreak, the department, he said had managed to vaccinate 1 679 pets, mostly dogs. He urged members of the community to bring their pets for vaccination. ENDS