By Chris Makhaye
Nqobile Radebe was elated when his classmate gave him a black and white spotted pitbull early last month.
He named it Tessy and it became his pet.
This week Nqobile, 18, died of suspected rabies, only 23 days after Tessy bit him on the left arm.
Last year there were eight reported human deaths due to rabies infections in KwaZulu-Natal. This year four people, not counting Radebe, are known to have died from rabies.
Rabies experts and veterinary doctors say the disease is on the increase. Last year KwaZulu-Natal had to put down 463 animals (mainly dogs and cats) suffering from rabies - the highest number of cases in the province's history.
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But department of health spokesperson Leon Mbangwa said he was not sure whether there was a rabies outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal.
"If there is an outbreak our officials on the ground will be first to know and inform us and we will raise the alarm," he said.
Nqobile's cousin, Sizwe Madiba, said Tessy had become "hysterical" - biting and scratching children and passers-by.
"It was really mad and saliva was dripping from the mouth.
"Nqobile tried to calm Tessy down, but was bitten on the right hand.
"A boy next door and a woman passer-by were also bitten," said Sizwe.
The dog later died and Nqobile buried it.
Family members said after Nqobile was bitten he was taken to the local clinic to be given a rabies injection.
No more treatment was given, however, and on Sunday Nqobile had seizures.
He stopped eating and was vomiting, said Nqobile's uncle, Skhonzile Madiba.
When he died at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi on Tuesday afternoon, Nqobile's blood samples were taken to a laboratory.
His death certificate reads "cause of death still under investigation".
Madiba said he was told by a nurse at the clinic that at the time Nqobile had been treated for the dog bite, the clinic might not have had the proper medication available.
Mbangwa said the health department would investigate allegations that the clinic had not fully treated Nqobile.
"We will also make sure that the other three people who were bitten by this dog are given treatment as soon as possible."
The agriculture department's head of veterinary services, Dr Themba Sikhakhane, said people who had been bitten by a dog or cat had to be injected at least five times.
"Health institutions are sometimes conservative, or they don't have the rabies anti-serum, and they inject people once. This is very dangerous."
Kevin le Roux, head of the rabies task team at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, warned that anyone who had been bitten or had been exposed to dog or cat saliva should report to health authorities.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of Tribune on May 18, 2008
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