Rabies 'has become endemic in the Cape fur seal population' - WC Agriculture Dept vet
State veterinarian for epidemiology at the Western Cape Agriculture Department, Dr Lesley van Helden, said the population was maintaining the infection.
FILE: A Cape Fur Seal sunbathes on the deserted quay at Kalk Bay Harbour in Cape Town on April 14, 2020. Picture: RODGER BOSCH/AFP
CAPE TOWN - It has emerged that a rabies outbreak amongst the Cape fur seal population is ongoing, with slim chances of ending naturally.
This was revealed on International Seal Day on Saturday.
State veterinarian for epidemiology at the Western Cape Agriculture Department, Dr Lesley van Helden, said the population was maintaining the infection.
"It's the first outbreak in a marine mammal. We do have rabies in various kinds of mammals that live on land, but this is the first time it's moved into the sea. It has become endemic in the Cape fur seal population, so that means wherever Cape fur seals occur along the coast, there's the potential of the case of rabies being in one of them."
Van Helden said that residents should not approach the seals.
"If for some reason you do get bitten or scratched or any sort of wound from a seal, please go immediately to your nearest health facility and they can provide a treatment that can prevent you from developing rabies. And then something else that everyone can do that’s really important is make sure that their dogs and cats are vaccinated, and that vaccination is maintained."