Date: Wed 7 Apr 2010

Source: Angola Press [trans. ProMed Mod.MPP, edited]

<http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/pt_pt/noticias/saude%20/2010/3/14/Ra%20vat-cause-four-deaths-pais,e465d454-7c20-4a09-ad24-f5e96aa2a7c3.html>

The Angolan health authorities reported 4 deaths caused by rabies and a total of 580 bites last week across the country. This was revealed to the press today [7 Apr 2010] by Deputy Health Minister Carlos Alberto Masseca at the end of the meeting of the inter-ministerial committee for Influenza and Rabies.

Carlos Masseca said that the deaths occurred in the provinces of Malanje (2 cases), Kwanza Norte (1 case) and Moxico (1 case), noting that Luanda and Bie are the regions most affected by rabies.

"We still continue to report a large number of bites," stated a spokesman at the meeting, stating that there is enough vaccine for the national campaign that has been running since February this year [2010].

According to Carlos Alberto Masseca, rabies is fatal, so if bitten by animals suspected of having the disease, victims should seek attention at medical units quickly and be vaccinated with the human rabies vaccine.

For this reason, there are calls for animal owners (of dogs, cats and monkeys) to assume their responsibilities in the immunization of these animals [against rabies] as well as greater compliance with the campaign and intervention of community leaders and provincial governments in raising public awareness so that together we can address this public health problem.

Data from provincial departments of the Veterinary Institute indicate that from [30 Mar 2010 to 6 Apr 2010], 124 692 animals were vaccinated in the country. During the same period, Luanda had 362 bites, 148 of which were in the Cacuaco municipality.

Huambo, Moxico, Namibe, Uige and Zaire are the regions with kennels/catteries in operation.
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[It is too early to judge whether the animal vaccination campaign initiated on 30 Mar 2010 will have any effect on the incidence of human cases.

A map showing the boundaries of the provinces of Angola can be accessed at:
<http://www.mapsofworld.com/angola/angola-political-map.html>.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Angola can be accessed at:
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?v=-12.3,17.5,5>. - ProMed Mod.CP]