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South Africa - Rabies confirmed in a seal from Cape Town – Report seal bites

Pathfinder

Pathfinder

Editor, Senior Moderator
Rabies confirmed in Cape fur seal attacked by dogs at Big Bay

Published Jun 10, 2024

Cape Town - A Cape fur seal attacked by dogs at Bloubergstrand has raised concern over the spread of rabies among the seal population.

This comes after a case of rabies was confirmed in the Cape Peninsula in a pet dog in Noordhoek that exhibited symptoms such as fever and increased aggression. The Western Cape Veterinary Services confirmed the Cape fur seal off the coast at Big Bay recently tested positive for rabies.

Belinda Abraham, spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, emphasised the importance of avoiding seals at present.

“The public is advised to stay away from all seals.

“A further two suspected cases are awaiting confirmation, and these are from different areas along our coastline,” said Abraham.
...

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/rare-rabies-detection-in-seal-bitten-by-a-dog-a4a39685-b35f-4381-8cb3-2223deefb91f#:~:text=Cape%20Town%20%2D%20The%20rec ent%20detection,and%20Muizenberg%20on%20May%2026.

----------------------------------
Rabies confirmed in a seal from Cape Town – Report seal bites

11 June 2024

Listen

On 7 June 2024, a case of rabies was confirmed in a wild Cape fur seal from Big Bay, Blouberg, Cape Town. Suspected positive results have also been received for seals sampled at Strand on 15 May and Muizenberg on 26 May.

The Western Cape Veterinary Services, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), City of Cape Town Coastal Management, and other partners are working to establish the origin and extent of the outbreak through further sampling and testing. Once determined, a management plan will be formulated. Rabies has not been detected in seals in Southern Africa, and this is one of very few detections in seals worldwide.

Please note the following:
  • It is normal for seals to haul out to rest on beaches in the Cape provinces, and dead seals are also common. A seal may act aggressively if it feels threatened.
  • Given that rabies infections are fatal in unvaccinated animals and people, and there is no treatment, a precautionary approach is being taken.
Precautionary measures:
  • Avoid all human and animal contact with seals or any wildlife.
  • Anyone bitten by a seal should immediately seek medical attention.
  • Anyone with an animal bitten by a seal in the last 6 months should consult the local state veterinarian (see link below).
  • Report the date and location of the bite event, type of wounds, treatment received, and vaccination status of the animal patient (provide written proof of vaccination and dates, if possible).
  • Ensure your animal’s rabies vaccine is up to date. By law, all dogs and cats in South Africa must be vaccinated against rabies by their owners.
Rabies is transmitted through direct contact between infected animals, including licking, scratching, nipping, and biting. Rabies can be transmitted to people through the lick, scratch, or bite of a rabid animal or any saliva contact with broken skin.

If bitten by a suspected rabid animal:
  1. Clean the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes. This is a critical step and should be done immediately.
  2. Go to the hospital/emergency room/clinic for further medical attention. You will be assessed, and arrangements made for you to receive post-exposure prophylaxis, which usually includes a series of rabies vaccinations and rabies immunoglobulins/antibodies (RIG), depending on the nature of the bite. RIG is not available everywhere – the doctor will guide you on your next steps. The doctor can call the nearest public sector hospital to determine where vaccine and RIG stocks are available.
Rabies vaccinations for animals are available throughout the province at private veterinary clinics, animal welfare organisations, and during pre-arranged vaccination campaigns by Western Cape Veterinary Services.

For more information about rabies and the contact details of your local Western Cape State Veterinarian, please visit https://www.elsenburg.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/RabiesAwareness-FAQ.pdf
...

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/rabies-confirmed-seal-cape-town-–-report-seal-bites

-------------------------------------------------

South Africa - Rabies virus (Inf. with) - Immediate notification

GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
ZONE

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
Listed disease

EVENT ID
5706

DISEASE
Rabies virus (Inf. with)

CAUSAL AGENT
Rabies virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
RABV

START DATE
2024/05/22

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
Unusual host species

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
-

CONFIRMATION DATE
2024/06/07

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE
-

SELF-DECLARATION
NO

REPORT INFORMATION
REPORT NUMBER
Immediate notification

REPORT ID
IN_167726

REPORT REFERENCE
RAB_WCP_Seal_2024_IN

REPORT DATE
2024/06/11

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT
-

EPIDEMIOLOGY
SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
Unknown or inconclusive

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
No epidemiological comment

QUANTITATIVE DATA SUMMARY
MEASURING UNIT
Animal

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Otariidae (unidentified) (WILD)
NEW - 1 1 0 0 0
TOTAL - 1 1 0 0 0
DIAGNOSTIC DETAILS
CLINICAL SIGNS
YES
...
NEW OUTBREAKS

OB_135232 - RAB_WCP_SEAL_2024_001 - RAB_WCP_SEAL_2024_001

OUTBREAK REFERENCE
RAB_WCP_Seal_2024_001

START DATE
2024/05/22

END DATE
-

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Western Cape

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
City of Cape Town

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
City of Cape Town

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
Other

LOCATION
RAB_WCP_Seal_2024_001

Latitude, Longitude
-33.8 , 18.5

(Approximate location)
OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
-

MEASURING UNIT
Animal

AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
-

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Otariidae (unidentified) (WILD)
Wild
NEW - 1 1 0 0 0
TOTAL - 1 1 0 0 0

https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5706​
 
​South Africa - Rabies virus (Inf. with) - Follow up report 1

GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
ZONE

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
Listed disease

EVENT ID
5706

DISEASE
Rabies virus (Inf. with)

CAUSAL AGENT
Rabies virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
RABV

START DATE
2024/05/22

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
Unusual host species

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
-

CONFIRMATION DATE
2024/06/07

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE
-

SELF-DECLARATION
NO

REPORT INFORMATION
REPORT NUMBER
Follow-up report 1

REPORT ID
FUR_168081

REPORT REFERENCE
RAB_WCP_Seal_2024_FU01

REPORT DATE
2024/07/08

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT
-

EPIDEMIOLOGY

SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
Unknown or inconclusive
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
No epidemiological comment

QUANTITATIVE DATA SUMMARY
MEASURING UNIT
Animal

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Otariidae (unidentified) (WILD)
NEW - 2 2 0 0 0
TOTAL - 3 3 0 0 0
...

NEW OUTBREAKS

OB_136438 - RAB_WCP_SEAL_2024_003 - RAB_WCP_SEAL_2024_003

OUTBREAK REFERENCE
RAB_WCP_Seal_2024_003

START DATE
2024/06/26

END DATE
-

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Western Cape

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
City of Cape Town

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
City of Cape Town
...
AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
Cape fur seal - Arctocephalus pusillus

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Otariidae (unidentified) (WILD)
Wild
NEW - 1 1 0 0 0
TOTAL - 1 1 0 0 0
...



OB_136045 - RAB_WCP_SEAL_2024_002 - RAB_WCP_SEAL_2024_002

OUTBREAK REFERENCE
RAB_WCP_Seal_2024_002

START DATE
2024/06/16

END DATE
-

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Western Cape

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Overberg

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Overstrand

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
Other

LOCATION
RAB_WCP_Seal_2024_002

Latitude, Longitude
-34.7 , 19.6

(Approximate location)
OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
-

MEASURING UNIT
Animal

AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
Cape fur seal - Arctocephalus pusillus

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Otariidae (unidentified) (WILD)
Wild
NEW - 1 1 0 0 0
TOTAL - 1 1 0 0 0
...
https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5706​
 
Dead seals on Cape Town beaches raise fears about widening rabies outbreak

Published 8:48 AM EDT, Fri July 12, 2024​
By Nimi Princewill, CNN

... The city has recorded “11 positive rabies cases in seals so far,” with the last positive case detected in a seal tested 10 days ago, according to Oelofse.​ ...

The Western Cape provincial health department alerted residents of a rabies risk last month, warning of “the potential for rabies cases along the entire coastline where seals are present.”

Authorities said in late June that they had confirmed seven cases of the disease in seals from seven beaches in Cape Town and elsewhere on the Western Cape, urging residents to avoid contact with the animals. The first case was detected in October 2023, they noted. ...

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/12/africa/dead-seals-cape-town-beaches-intl/index.html
​
 
Scientists in South Africa say they have identified the first known outbreak of rabies in seals

Updated 8:40 AM CDT, September 20, 2024
BY GERALD IMRAY​

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Scientists in South Africa say they have identified an outbreak of rabies in seals that is believed to be the first time the virus has spread in sea mammals.

At least 24 Cape fur seals that were found dead or euthanized in various locations on South Africa’s west and south coast had rabies, state veterinarian Dr. Lesley van Helden said. ...

The virus has long been seen in wild animals such as raccoons, coyotes, foxes, jackals and in domestic dogs. But it had never been recorded spreading among marine mammals, van Helden and other experts said this week. ...

The genes of the rabies virus found in the seals matched the rabies in black-backed jackals in Namibia. It also showed rabies was being transmitted between seals, because most of the virus sequences were closely related, she said.

“So, it’s basically established itself in the seal population and it’s being maintained by them biting each other,” van Helden said. ...

https://apnews.com/article/seals-ra...ent-wildlife-faafc6b19a3e211853cd50952c5c802b

​

​
 
Source: https://www.capetownetc.com/news/tw...ophylactic-rabies-treatment-after-seal-bites/

Two people are receiving prophylactic rabies treatment after seal bites
Published by Jared Moorgas on October 8, 2024


Two individuals, including a 56-year-old man and a young adult whose age and gender remain unknown, were reportedly attacked by seals on Saturday, 5 October at Santos Beach in Mossel Bay, Cape {town} Etc reports.​

The Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T) reported that the two attacks occurred an hour apart, though it’s unclear if the same seal was involved, the George Herald reports.

Both victims are being treated at Life Bay View Private Hospital for their wounds and are receiving rabies prophylaxis.

Four seals in the Mossel Bay area have been confirmed rabies cases since July and were euthanised.

Authorities are concerned about public safety, as these infected seals could pose a rabies risk to the public.​..
 
image.png
​

Statement

Rabies detected in Cape fur seals highlights an unprecedented shift in rabies ecology

319614378.jpg


Published on 17 July 2026

The detection of sustained rabies transmission in Cape fur seals in southern Africa marks an unprecedented development in the ecology of rabies and raises important questions for wildlife conservation, animal public health and transboundary disease preparedness.

Since 2024, more than 100 cases of rabies have been confirmed in Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) in South Africa and Namibia. Retrospective testing and genetic analyses indicate that sustained transmission within the seal population began several years before the disease was detected.

Current evidence suggests that the outbreak originated from a single spillover event involving a dog-related rabies virus variant maintained by black-backed jackals in southern Africa, followed by ongoing transmission between Cape fur seals. This represents the first known establishment of rabies in a free-ranging marine mammal population.

Affected seals have displayed neurological signs, including abnormal aggression towards people and other animals. As of May 2026, more than 145 human exposure incidents had been reported, highlighting the importance of appropriate public health measures and post-exposure management.

The event also has broader implications for wildlife health. Cape fur seals range across the coasts of South Africa and Namibia and can travel considerable distances, creating opportunities for contact with other marine mammal species. Continued investigation is needed to better understand the ecological consequences of the outbreak and the potential implications for marine mammal populations in other regions.

The emergence of rabies in Cape fur seals demonstrates how pathogens can adapt to new host species and reinforces the importance of integrated surveillance across wildlife, domestic animals and humans under a One Health approach. Strengthening collaboration between veterinary, wildlife, environmental and public health authorities remains essential for early detection, risk assessment and coordinated response.

WOAH encourages Members, its wider network and other experts to maintain vigilance for – a rabies-like syndrome in marine mammals, reinforce wildlife disease surveillance and laboratory diagnosis, ensure appropriate protection of personnel handling suspect animals, and continue sustained dog vaccination programmes, which remain the cornerstone of preventing dog-mediated rabies and reducing the risk of spillover into wildlife.

WOAH will continue to work with Members and partners to monitor and support preparedness, surveillance and response through its expert networks, including the Working Group on Wildlife, the Rabies Reference Laboratory Network and the United Against Rabies Forum.
More information
  • Tess Gridley, Aaron Barnes, Lucille Blumberg et al. Novel rabies outbreak in a marine mammal – the Cape fur seal, 09 April 2026, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square
  • Rabies in marine mammals: Implications for Wildlife Health, Public Health and Transboundary Risk – WOAH Signal
  • Rabies in Cape fur seals: outbreak update report
  • WAHIS – World Animal Health Information System – Official reporting platform for listed and emerging animal diseases, including guidance and dashboards
  • WOAH Terrestrial Manual – Infection with rabies virus and other lyssaviruses 
  • WOAH Wildlife Health Programme and Wildlife Health Strategy
​https://www.woah.org/en/rabies-dete...hts-an-unprecedented-shift-in-rabies-ecology/
 
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