Cape fur seals are familiar sights for swimmers, surfers, and scuba divers who visit or frequent the majestic waters off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. Most interactions between these marine mammals and humans are generally peaceful, with the pinnipeds swimming close to scuba divers and riding the waves alongside the surfers; however, in recent years, several seals have been aggressively biting humans.
After euthanizing and testing some of these aggressive seals, marine scientists discovered they were infected with rabies. Though no humans have contracted the virus from a seal bite, many beachgoers are still worried about being bitten, scientists are trying to figure out how the animals got infected, and city officials are taking precautions to keep the public safe. So what does this outbreak mean for Cape Town residents and visitors? Let’s find out.
When Did Seals Start Showing Signs of Rabies?
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Late in 2021, Western Cape provincial officials identified a notable uptick in seal aggression towards humans along Cape Town’s 300-kilometer (186-mile) coastline. Last October, they detected the first case of rabies in a seal. In May of this year, a seal aggressively bit multiple people, while another one was found with heavy facial injuries that another animal might have caused. Wanting to figure out what was causing these strange spikes in seal aggression, authorities decided to euthanize four of the animals and send their bodies to be tested.
Gregg Oelofse, who directs coastal management for the Cape Town Council, teamed up with marine scientists from Sea Search, a local research organization, and the SPCA, an animal welfare organization, to test the brains of those animals as well as other ones that had been euthanized for other reasons. Their tests showed that three of the four aggressive ones had been infected with the rabies virus. As of this writing, this team has identified 11 positive rabies cases, with the most recent being identified on July 2nd.
While rabies is endemic to many wild animals native to South Africa, such as jackals, it’s very uncommon in marine mammals. In fact, before these cases, only one case of a seal contracting the virus was recorded, which happened in Norway’s Svalbard Islands in 1980. Thus, these infected pinnipeds might signal the first ever major viral outbreak among marine mammals.
Have the Seals Infected Any Humans?
Understandably, many people in Cape Town are concerned about this news, especially since rabies has an almost 100% fatality rate in humans once its symptoms appear. According to Oelofse, he’s seen swimmers and surfers panicking and trying to get away whenever they spot a Cape fur seal, whereas previously they enjoyed interacting with these animals.
Oelofse doesn’t feel the panic is entirely justified, though, especially if a seal is relaxed and not being aggressive. Furthermore, while scientists estimate that several people have been bitten by these rabid animals, no human has been reported getting infected with the virus yet. It’s not entirely certain why this is the case, although Oelofse speculates that the virus’s transfer rate is low or its viral load is diluted by the salt water in the marine animals‘ mouths. At least for now, the danger of humans contracting the virus appears low.
The scientists will continue studying the animals, though, to attempt to figure out where the virus originally came from. Though so far the animals haven’t spread the virus to humans, they may continue spreading the virus to each other or other marine mammals like Cape clawless otters via their saliva. The scientists want to keep a close eye on the virus’s spread since they worry that it could become established among marine mammal populations.
How Should Humans and Pets Stay Safe?
Though Cape Town officials have stated there’s no need to panic, they’ve issued precautions to people going to any of the city’s beaches to keep them safe from potentially rabid seals. Officials recommend the public to keep themselves and any pets they have as far away from any Cape fur seals as possible. If people notice any of these animals acting weirdly or aggressively, they should report those encounters to the authorities. Lifeguards have also been instructed to shut beaches down if they or any beachgoers report the presence of aggressive seals.
If any person or their pet gets bitten by a seal, they should seek medical attention immediately. While symptoms like aggression, disorientation, and overwhelming fear of water can take anywhere from a few days to three months to become noticeable, the virus is nearly always fatal once they become apparent. Getting treatment early is vitally important to prevent the virus from spreading. City officials have advised hotline doctors at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) to recommend post-exposure prophylaxis (a combination of the rabies vaccine and donated antibodies) to anyone bitten by a seal.
Final Thoughts
Cape fur seals are cute; the rabies virus isn’t. Prompted by rising incidents of the marine mammals aggressively biting or attacking humans, city officials and scientists in Cape Town, South Africa, are investigating what could be causing these usually placid animals to become more hostile recently. So far, they’ve identified the rabies virus in 11 euthanized seals in the area; they’re also researching the origin and tracking the spread of the strain.
While no human has yet contracted the virus from a seal bite, city officials still urge residents and tourists to take proper precautions. People should report any seals acting weirdly or aggressively and seek immediate medical attention if they or their pets are bitten. Though people shouldn’t be currently alarmed about a massive rabies outbreak, they should stay informed about these cases.
Disclaimer: This article is intended simply to provide information. It does not replace the medical advice of a physician. Please speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
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