MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has said there have been a total of 55 laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies in seals in South Africa since June last year.
This includes 39 cases from the Western Cape and 16 cases from the Northern Cape.
The department's spokesperson, Mary James, gave this information to Mossel Bay Advertiser on answering questions about the recent removal of a distressed seal, displaying symptoms of neurological illness, from the beach opposite the ATKV campsite in Hartenbos on Saturday, 11 January.
The seal was rushed to Hartenbos Animal Hospital for examination by volunteers from the Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.).
A S.M.A.R.T. committee member, Val Marsh, said that due to the recent cases of rabies in seals, it was of the utmost importance to carefully capture the seal and transport it to the hospital for a thorough evaluation.
The seal died shortly after arriving at the hospital and before the veterinarians could conduct an examination.
Hartenbos Animal Hospital's Sister Stefanie de Graaff said the seal, a female, had bite wounds to her flippers and near her neck and that the wounds appeared to have been inflicted fairly recently.
De Graaff said samples had been taken and were ready to be collected by the state vet for testing.
She emphasised that only the state vet could confirm if the seal had rabies or if her symptoms were of some other illness or condition.
Marsh reminded the public that rabies is a serious and highly contagious disease and that people should not approach or attempt to help any wildlife showing any unusual behaviours.
"Instead, contact trained professionals, like S.M.A.R.T., who have the experience and equipment to handle these cases appropriately," said Marsh.
James said that the samples from the seal removed from the beach at Hartenbos would be sent for testing.
Responding to questions from the Advertiser about controlling the spread of rabies in seals, James said the department has "exhaustively looked at all options for control of seal rabies".
She noted: "There are currently some small research projects under way to measure the effect of rabies vaccination in seals, mostly to confirm whether the available vaccines will provide adequate protection against rabies in seals," said James.
"Once this has been determined, vaccination can be used to protect certain groups of seals, especially those in close contact with people.
"Large-scale vaccination of seals is unfortunately not practically possible, as there are about two million Cape fur seals along the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, many in inaccessible areas. It is therefore not possible to eradicate rabies from the seal population."
James said that given the increase of cases in South Africa, as well as evidence from sequencing of the rabies viruses found in these cases, the department can conclude that rabies is endemic in the seal population. Sequencing is the process of analysing the genetic code of the virus.
"This means that rabies is maintained within the seal population and will always be present. Disease management must therefore be focused on long-term strategies to protect people and other animals from rabid seals."
James said there are many ways to do this and the Departments of Agriculture, Health and the Environment, as well as local municipalities and non-governmental organisations have all been working together to do as much as possible.
Some of this includes:
• Public awareness campaigns
• Monitoring of seal colonies and removal of suspect cases
• Dog and cat rabies vaccination campaigns
• Recommending pre-exposure prophylaxis for people at risk
• Providing post-exposure prophylaxis for exposed individuals
• Actions to prevent contact between seals and other animals, such as dogs having to be on leashes on beaches
To report any instances of seals or other marine animals in distress or behaving unusually, contact S.M.A.R.T. (072 227 4715); Dr Greg Hofmeyr, the curator for marine mammals at Bayworld in Gqeberha (071 724 2122); or Mossel Bay Municipality (all hours, 044 606 5000).
Previous articles:
- Seal attack victim (21) speaks
- Surfer recounts seal attack
- Seal victim has 31 bite wounds
- Two seal attacks at Santos Beach
- Rabies in seal and her unborn pup
- Third seal tests positive for rabies
- Another seal tests positive for rabies
- Avoid seals, urges biologist
- 'More rabid seals expected'
- UPDATE: Seal at the Poort tests positive for rabies
- Seal euthanised after aggressive behaviour
