Human rabies may be reported as rare with an average of 19 laboratory confirmed cases, however the virus is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) reports that rabies is a zoonic, vaccine-preventable viral disease that causes damage to the brain and spinal cord in infected animals and human beings.
NICD highlights that the virus is spread to human and other animals through contact with:
- Saliva of infected animals
- Bites or scratches or licks to wounds
- Grazes
- Broken skin or the lining of the mouth and nose
Human to human transmission is not known, apart from rare cases associated with organ transplantation. Most human rabies cases in South Africa are linked to rabid domestic dogs.
According to NICD, animals and humans can present the same symptoms when infected with rabies, which can be in the furious (hyperactive/agitated) or paralytic (dumb) forms.
The common signs and symptoms of rabies include:
- Discomfort or pain at the site of the previous wound
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
NICD adds that these signs may rapidly progress to signs of neurological dysfunction, which may include changed behavior, anxiety, confusion and agitation.
People with rabies can also display hypersalivation, aerophobia (fear of air) and hydrophobia (fear of water). NICD’s health report continues and says some people may have localised weakness, paralytic syndromes, which eventually progress to coma and death.
Rabies is a fatal infection in human beings and only exceptionally rare cases of survival have been reported to date.
In South Africa, domestic dogs are mostly diagnosed with rabies, however, other animals may also be infected with the virus, including domestic livestock (such as cattle and sheep) and wildlife (such as jackal). Rabies are not usually reported from small rodents such as mice and rats. The virus is also not reported in birds or reptiles.
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