The Mercury E-dition

Two children die in rabies outbreak

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TWO children have died in a rabies outbreak in the Eastern Cape.

A 5-year-old from Reeston in East London died after an infected dog bit him.

The rabies outbreak also claimed the life of a boy aged 9 from Motherwell in Gqeberha, who was also bitten by an infected dog. This comes as the Eastern Cape government is vaccinating dogs in Gqeberha and Buffalo City Municipality.

“We are undertaking a vaccination drive to vaccinate dogs in various parts of the metro. This is a joint drive together with the Department of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (Veterinary Services) in collaboration with the metro’s Municipal Health Services, Disaster Management and Public Participation,” read a statement.

Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of an infected animal. Animals most likely to spread rabies include dogs, bats, coyotes, foxes, skunks and raccoons.

Symptoms in humans include fever, headache, excess salivation, muscle spasms, paralysis and confusion.

METRO

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2021-09-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

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