An outbreak of rabies in fur seals has been reported in South Africa's Western Cape region, potentially the first documented case in marine mammals worldwide. At least 17 seals have tested positive so far, with cases dating back to at least August 2022 and spanning hundreds of miles of coastline.
The outbreak has led to concerning behavioral changes in the seals, including increased aggression, attacks on humans, dogs, and each other, as well as pup die-offs and mass abortions among pregnant females.
The latest case was reported in Mossel Bay. Two cases were detected in Plettenberg Bay, but none in the Wilderness area.
Vaccinations will be trialed to contain the outbreak, starting with seals in regular contact with humans, such as those in harbors or rehab centers, and potentially expanding to other seal species. Euthanizing infected seals may also be considered.
The Cape fur seal population ranges from 1.7 to 2.1 million along a 2,800km coastline, making research and understanding the disease's impact challenging. The seals are highly social and known to bite each other while fighting and mating, which may contribute to the virus's spread.
Those infected with rabies received correct treatment in time, with no fatalities reported. However, anyone bitten by a seal in the past six months should seek medical evaluation immediately.
Rabies in marine life is rare, with only a few cases documented worldwide. Efforts to control it through culling have been deemed unethical and ineffective, leaving vaccination as the only viable method.
Various organizations are working together to establish the extent and timeline of the outbreak through sampling and testing.
Officials are warning people to keep their distance from the seals and seek immediate medical care if bitten, as there are concerns about the virus spreading to other marine mammal species.
Sources: New York Times, AllAfrica, Daily Maverick, TittlePress, Phys.org, Citizen
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
