Since last year, 22 people have died of dog bites in Vhembe, two in Mopani and two in Waterberg. Nineteen of the 26 who died were children and seven are over the age of eighteen years.

This was disclosed by the MEC for Health and Social Development in Limpopo, Seaparo Sekoati, during the provincial Rabies World Day held at Makonde basic sports field on Saturday.

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is found in the saliva of animals and usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from the infected animal. It can be transmitted by scratches, leaks on broken skin and mucous membranes. Rabies is not only found in dogs, state veterinarians have reported that it is also found in cattle, cats, goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, jackals and various mammal animals.

Rabies in humans begins 20 to 60 days after being bitten or scratched by an animal. However, it can also occur even years later. The signs and symptoms are headaches, anxiety, fever, vomiting and fear of water, difficulty in swallowing, hoarse voice, muscle pains, irritability, restlessness, paralysis, mental disorder and profuse salivation.

MEC Sekoati said the main control mechanism is rabies is vaccination in order to save the lives of humans and animals. He also called upon people to submit their animals for free vaccination. "There are those who are reluctant to vaccinate their dogs believing that their dogs would no longer be active hunters. This is not true and hunting dogs are the ones who critically need vaccination as they are at risk of being infected by wild animals. A dog with rabies may show a variety of behavioural changes, including fearfulness, aggression, excessive difficulty in swallowing, irritability and staggering. A dog is known as man’s best friend, but once it is infected with rabies, it looses respect and fear for humans by biting even with no provocation, while wild animals may act timidly and move closer to residential areas. Other animals will show depression, self mutilation and an increased sensitivity to light."

Sekoati advised those who have been bitten by animals to act quickly. "If bitten or scratched by an animal, you should quickly wash the wounds well with clean water using soap for at least ten minutes and then seek medical attention immediately from the nearest clinic or hospital. Even the South African Police Services have been brought on board for assistance when cases of rabies are reported. Do not wait for symptoms to develop as there is no effective treatment for human rabies once symptoms develop. Death is inevitable when rabies’ clinical signs become apparent. Human rabies is 100% preventable even if 100 children die from rabies every day in the world. As organs of state and government that you have elected, we will do all in our power to fight any danger that is threatening the lives of our citizens. We will continue to strengthen our preventative and control measures through conducting vaccination to animals and make sure that we capacitate our health and veterinarian staff. Together we can stop rabies."