Death of baby sparks massive anti-rabies drive

The death of a two-year-old from rabies in north-east KZN has prompted the KZN Veterinary Services to step-up the fight against the disease.
KZN Veterinary staff have reduced animal rabies by 90% in the province over a period of time since 2007 (473 cases down to 47).
Spokesman Khaye Nkwanyana said the shock death of the baby had ‘strengthened our resolve to fight and combat it so that no additional life must be lost through rabies.’
“Until recently, the province has been human rabies free, working in partnership with World Health Organization and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation conducted mass dog vaccination programmes that broke the disease across the province, and established KZN as the Africa leader in rabies control.”
“The Province is now on a massive drive to eliminate rabies completely in order to prevent more human deaths. What we are targeting is the vaccination of more than 70% of the dogs in these Districts as they remain the main source of the disease for the rest of province. We have taken a decision to set aside a budget for the next six-month intensification of the vaccination programme, especially in rural areas working with local authorities.”