Both tested positive via laboratory confirmation before their deaths. A third suspected case involving an elderly woman from Umnini was under investigation at the time of reporting.
Key details of the cases
eThekwini Municipality’s Health Directorate confirmed the two men were exposed to the same infected dog. Rabies is nearly always fatal once clinical symptoms appear, which is why post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) must be started promptly after any potential exposure (bite, scratch, or contact with saliva of a potentially infected animal). Delayed care is a recurring factor in South African human rabies fatalities.
This forms part of a longer pattern: eThekwini recorded 19 human rabies deaths between January 2021 and August 2026, with 11 of those in the South Service Area.
Municipal response
Authorities activated a coordinated One Health Action Group involving State Veterinary Services, Communicable Disease Control, Environmental Health Practitioners, Community Health Workers, and others. Actions included:
- Case investigations and heightened surveillance.
- A targeted field campaign on 28 July 2026 in Ethenjane, Emapayipini, and Mgalaza that vaccinated 141 dogs and 7 cats, treated 25 pets, distributed educational materials, and reached roughly 500 residents.
- Securing 5,000 additional animal rabies vaccine doses to expand vaccination and emergency response efforts across affected communities.
- Ongoing public awareness drives and training for healthcare workers.
Municipality spokesman Senzelwe Mzila stressed that rabies is preventable through animal vaccination and immediate medical care after exposure, but almost invariably fatal once symptoms develop. Transmission typically occurs via the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often dogs.
Guidance for the public
Officials and health guidance emphasise:
- Immediately wash any bite, scratch, or saliva contact site thoroughly with soap and running water.
- Seek urgent medical attention at the nearest health facility for assessment and PEP (which can include rabies vaccine and, in higher-risk cases, immunoglobulin).
- Report animals showing unusual aggression, neurological signs, or other abnormal behaviour.
- Ensure dogs and cats receive routine rabies vaccinations (a legal and public-health responsibility in South Africa).
Local residents expressed concern about the density of dogs in some communities and the importance of owner responsibility for vaccination.
Broader context
Dog-mediated rabies remains a persistent challenge in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and other South African provinces, disproportionately affecting areas with lower vaccination coverage and limited access to timely care. Similar recent or past cases in the region (including earlier deaths linked to unvaccinated dogs) have repeatedly prompted vaccination drives and “One Health” responses that link human health, animal health, and environmental measures. The goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 (aligned with global targets) continues to face gaps in sustained coverage and prompt post-exposure treatment.
Reports of these specific deaths and the municipal vaccine procurement appeared in South African outlets around 28 August 2026. For the most current local advice or vaccination campaign details, residents should check eThekwini Municipality or provincial health/veterinary channels.
