New Zealand’s first rabies death, overseas traveller dies in Auckland

Auckland City Hospital. Photo / Jason Oxenham

New Zealand has recorded its first death from rabies after a traveller from overseas was diagnosed in early March.

The person died last week, and Te Whatu Ora director of public health Dr Nick Jones said there is no risk to the wider public, as person-to-person rabies is extremely rare.

The traveller was initially diagnosed in Whangārei but treated at Auckland City Hospital with full infection control management procedures.

The National Public Health Service will not be releasing any further details of the case to protect the person’s identity.

New Zealand does not have rabies in its animal or human populations, and this case does not change the country’s rabies-free status, Jones 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,” he said.

While New Zealand does not have rabies, it is recommended that anyone travelling to countries where it is present should get vaccinated, especially if they are travelling to rural areas, places where they may be in contact with animals, or if staying longer than a month.

All travellers are urged to stay away from animals while overseas, especially dogs because they are the cause of 99 per cent of rabies infections.

Rabies is a viral disease transmitted via the bite of an infected animal. It infects the central nervous system of mammals, causing disease in the brain and ultimately death. It occurs in more than 150 countries and kills tens of thousands of people annually.

There are two forms of rabies infection. The first is known as furious rabies, which presents as hyperactivity, hydrophobia (fear of water) and aerophobia (fear of fresh air). In this presentation, death usually occurs within a few days due to cardiac arrest.

The second form of rabies is less common and is called paralytic rabies. This causes gradual paralysis, usually spreading from the site of the infection. The infected person will fall into a coma and eventually die.

Rabies is treatable by vaccine either after exposure or before. The World Health Organisation recommends people who interact with animals frequently get vaccinated for rabies, and also recommends people vaccinate their dogs to slow the infection rates.