4th death from rabies in KwaZulu-Natal

2012-08-29 12:02

(File) (Shutterstock)

Durban - A fourth person is believed to have died from rabies in KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial department of environmental affairs announced on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Jeffrey Zikhali said a 21-year-old man, identified as SK Majola from Durban's Mariannhill, died on Saturday.

He said Majola had been bitten by a dog in mid-June, but only sought treatment at St Mary's Hospital for the bite two days later.

"He was given the tetanus vaccine and immunoglobulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine. An appointment to attend Tshelenyama clinic was then organised for the remainder of his rabies doses.

Some reports indicate he apparently defaulted [on] the follow-up."

Majola was admitted to RK Khan Hospital last Wednesday with left shoulder pain, palpitations, difficulty swallowing and hydrophobia.

He failed to respond to treatment and died on Saturday morning.

Zikhali said saliva had been sent for testing at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and that a post mortem would also be carried out.

Majola is the fourth person in KwaZulu-Natal to die from rabies.

The first was an 8-year-old from Bergville in the Midlands. Then it was 52-year-old Clementina Cele from Ngonyameni outside Umlazi, south of Durban. The third was 29-year-old Graham Anderson, a farmer from Underberg in the Midlands.

A 4-year-old boy from Umlazi remains in a serious condition at Durban's Clairwood hospital after he was bitten in April by two dogs, both of which were infected with rabies.

- SAPA