Venezuelan health authorities rejected reports of an outbreak of "silvan rabies" in the east of the country, where 38 indigenous Waraos died weeks ago, Xinhua reported. Nancy Perez, the deputy health minister for collective health networks, said no cases of "silvan rabies" have been detected in the last 20 years in the region. The cause of the deaths of the indigenous living in the delta of the Orinoco river is still under investigation. Perez was responding to reports that at least 38 people from one tribe were suspected of dying from "silvan rabies," the fatal disease which is mainly transmitted by bats. The deaths drew the attention of the Pan American Health Organization, which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization. Perez said that according to the medical teams sent to the zone by the government, there is no evidence showing that the patients' deaths were caused by bites of the bat, or any other animal. Health Ministry personnel have been to the zone 16 times for investigation, delivering medicine to local people as well as installing a potable water plant, Perez said, adding that an ambulatory network of some 20 doctors has been established with the support of Civil Defense, the Indigenous Affairs Regional Institute, the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land and the Health Management of the Delta Amacuro. Meanwhile, a "multidisciplinary group" formed by doctors, epidemiologist and veterinarians is also visiting the indigenous towns in the delta region, Perez said.
