Task team to address KZN rabies outbreak

The task team, which was set up involving various stakeholders, ensures that the Department of Health conducts a survey of deaths to establish the extent of rabies-related fatalities in the province.

The team has been instructed to provide information about rabies to school children, launch a massive vaccination drive in all high-risk areas and disseminate information in respect of resources needed to address the outbreak of rabies, among other things.

The team is led by Members of the Executive Council of Health, Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Finance, Transport, Community Safety and Liaison. An academic and the South African Police Service will also be part of the team.

Further to this, the provincial veterinary services have received an additional 100 staff and vehicles to intensify the animal rabies vaccination programme.

Three rabies deaths have been confirmed in the province this year.

The Department of Health is investigating all suspect human cases and is responsible for the issue of preventative vaccine therapy treatment.

Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize has urged the community to co-operate with the government in addressing the outbreak.

"We ask everybody, in particular dog owners, to comply with the directives by authorities. The danger posed by one affected dog that has not been vaccinated is simply a matter of life and death and we should not have to involve the police to enforce compliance.

"Some of the dogs may have to be put down in order to limit the spread of the disease," said Mkhize.

The Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Hygiene Services has partnered with the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation in a five-year R16.5 million project to eradicate rabies in KwaZulu-Natal.