Image by David Mark from Pixabay
New Zealand revealed its first-ever rabies case, saying the viral disease had killed a patient who caught it abroad but there was no risk to the public.
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
New Zealand revealed its first-ever rabies case Thursday, saying the viral disease had killed a patient who caught it abroad but there was no risk to the public.
Doctors used “full infection control measures” at the two hospitals where the case was treated, first in Whangarei on the North Island, then in nearby Auckland, the health ministry said.
ALSO READ | 50,000 teachers strike in New Zealand over cost of living
“Person to person transmission of rabies is extremely rare, almost unknown, so there is no risk to members of the public,” the ministry said in a statement.
Rabies is usually spread by the saliva of an infected animal that bites someone.
ALSO READ | Former Ekurhuleni health workers want their jobs back
The patient, who was not identified, was suspected of having the disease when first admitted to hospital in early March.
Laboratory results later confirmed it was the first-ever case of rabies in New Zealand, home to five million people.
ALSO READ | Cyclone recovery expected to cost New Zealand billions
“New Zealand does not have rabies in its animal or human populations, and this case does not change our rabies-free status,” the health ministry said.
“Travellers should be aware, however, that there are thousands of rabies cases reported in humans around the world each year, including a number of countries in our part of the world,” said director of public health Nick Jones.
ALSO READ | Ramadan: a dietitian offers tips for healthy fasting
He urged people to get vaccinated before travelling to countries where rabies is common.
© Agence France-Presse