According to officials, an individual who was infected with rabies abroad has been identified as New Zealand’s first case of the virus, as announced on Thursday.
Now, what is rabies and how much cause for concern should we have? First and foremost, the Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) has assured the public that there is no risk to them from this case. New Zealand remains free of rabies in both its animal and human populations, and this singular occurrence does not alter our rabies-free status.
However, rabies remains a prevalent issue internationally, with thousands of human cases reported each year, particularly in Asia. Therefore, health officials are reminding travellers to exercise caution.
So what are Rabies?
Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system and can be prevented by vaccination. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can spread from animals to humans. The virus is usually transmitted through contact with the saliva of an infected animal, typically through a bite, scratch, or direct contact with mucous membranes like the mouth, eyes, or open wounds.
According to Director of Public Health Dr Nick Jones, person-to-person transmission of rabies is extremely uncommon, almost unheard of.