Rabies cases still on the rise in South Africa

Due to people in farming communities keeping higher numbers of dogs, rabies is more prevalent in rural areas.

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The number of rabies cases in animals and humans is still on the rise, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Kevin le Roux, chairperson of the South African Rabies Advisory Group, told Farmer’s Weekly that in Gqeberha and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality alone, there had been 471 positive samples taken in the past five months.

“The Gqeberha outbreak is unprecedented in South Africa’s rabies history, and samples have overwhelmed the laboratory in Allerton [KwaZulu-Natal],” he said.

“The Eastern Cape outbreak has placed further pressure on the southern coast [of the province]. It is believed that the recent and previously-unheard-of canine rabies in Cape Town and surrounds originates from the Eastern Cape.”