In response to the first documented rabies outbreak in a marine mammal population, South African authorities will trial vaccinations for Cape fur seals after the disease infected at least seven people. The infections, all resulting from bites or scratches by rabid seals, were promptly treated, preventing fatalities, said Cape Town coastal management manager Gregg Oelofse.
The City of Cape Town issued a statement on Wednesday urging the public to avoid seals exhibiting unusual or aggressive behaviour and to report such sightings to authorities, who may consider euthanising affected animals.
Vaccinations will be trialled on selected seals, particularly those in frequent contact with humans, such as those visiting harbours or in rehabilitation centres. However, vaccinating the entire population of two million Cape fur seals, which ranges from southern Angola to South Africa’s Eastern Cape, is not feasible.
Authorities will also attempt to vaccinate seals from other species that occasionally visit the shores of southern Africa.
Increased aggression in Cape fur seals was first noticed around three years ago, with approximately 70 unprovoked attacks on humans. However, it was only confirmed in June that rabies was the cause. Since then, about 15 rabies cases have been confirmed in seals in South Africa, with seven human infections.
Vaccinations will also be administered to vagrant seals that occasionally visit South Africa’s shores to prevent them from carrying the disease back to their colonies in the Southern Ocean. These include a few elephant seals and about five Sub-Antarctic seals that come ashore annually.