The Eastern Cape province, in particular the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and Amathole and O.R. Tambo
Districts, is experiencing an unprecedented massive outbreak of rabies, the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, has said in a recent statement.
Since the beginning of January 2021 to date, 414 cases in
the NMBM, 42 cases in Amathole, 27 cases in O.R. Tambo and
23 cases in the Chris Hani District have been confirmed by a laboratory as positive for
rabies.
The
epicentre of the current outbreak has been around Despatch, Kariega and
KwaNobuhle in the NMBM, around Buffalo City Metro, Mbashe and Mnquma Local
Municipalities in the Amathole district, around KSD, PSJ, Ingquza Hill and Mhlontlo
in O.R. Tambo and around Ngcobo and Enoch Mgijima in the Chris Hani District.
“There have been some positive cases as well in the other two districts, though not as high
as the other four districts. Joe Gqabi District reported six positive rabies cases around Elundini and Senqu Local Municipalities and Alfred
Nzo reported five positive cases around Umzimvubu Local Municipality. The history of these cases involves either dogs or people having been
attacked by rabid stray dogs,” the statement read.
Rabies is a
deadly viral disease that is transmissible from animals to humans and can
affect all mammals. It affects the brain, both in animals and humans. The
rabies virus is released into the saliva of infected animals and passed to
animals or man through the bite of an infected animal. Dogs and cats are the
most common animals that transmit the disease to humans.
“The Eastern
Cape runs an annual rabies awareness and vaccination campaign from June to
September each year. Mass vaccination of dogs and cats through campaigns has
been the cornerstone of our control strategy. It has been the single most
useful and cost-effective measure for rabies prevention and control. A total of
58 407 dogs and cats have been vaccinated from January 2021 to February 2022 in
the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, 73 158 in Amathole, 118 052 in O.R. Tambo and 77 681 in the Chris Hani District. There have also been vaccinations carried out during this period in the Joe Gqabi and
Alfred Nzo Districts around outbreak areas. Joe Gqabi vaccinated 24 497
cats and dogs and Alfred Nzo 16 651,” the statement continued.
“Regular
reporting of suspected cases by the Private Veterinarians & Animal Welfare
Organisations and euthanasia of dogs with clinical signs were key in the control
and prevention of rabies outbreaks. Pamphlets and short clip audio visual
material were shared on social media sites as well as the publication of vaccination
programmes in a local newspaper. A podcast was also created with Algoa FM.
As part of creating awareness among the health practitioners, a webinar was
held in collaboration with the department of Health Staff and NICD.”
A World
Rabies Day was held in Motherwell in Gqeberha on the September 28, 2021. The theme for the World Rabies day was “Facts not Fear.” MEC for the Department, Nonkqubela Pieters, attended the event and shared rabies awareness messages with
the crowd that brought their pets. On the day
before the World Rabies day, a senior
team from the national Department hosted a webinar on rabies outbreaks in South
Africa.
“Collaboration
with private veterinarians and Animal Welfare Organisations (SPCA, Animal
Anti-Cruelty League and Animal Welfare Society) has been key especially in the
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. These organisations assisted with
collection of samples and vaccinations of dogs and cats. The Nelson Mandela Bay
dog control unit has assisted with the collection of sick dogs, taking them to
the municipality pound where the SPCA operates their facility. The dogs are
euthanized and samples taken. SAPS has been involved in the northern areas of
the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, assisting with safeguarding
officials and vehicles. Thirty final year students from TARDI assisted with
awareness and vaccination campaigns in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.”
Below are
details of officials to be contacted whenever services are needed:
Alfred Nzo:
Dr Ncedeka Ndzamela: 0796952010.
Amathole:
Dr Perushka Govender: 0834590284.
Chris Hani:
Dr Matthew Chimbwanda: 0834592105.
Joe Gqabi:
Dr Ziyanda Majokweni: 0846166084.
O.R. Tambo:
Dr Kolisa Nokoyo: 0837097573.
Sarah
Baartman and Nelson Mandela Bay: Dr Lungile Jali: 0827695601.
