Cape Town: As the holiday season approaches, the public and travelers have been warned about the risk of rabies in dogs, Cape fur seals, and other animals. The alert has been issued by the Department of Agriculture; the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment; the Department of Health, and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

According to South African Government News Agency, the departments collectively wish to alert members of the public about high-risk rabies areas in South Africa where the disease occurs in dogs, Cape fur seals, and other animals. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects all mammals and can spread from animals to humans. The virus is transmitted in the saliva of infected animals through bites, scratches, and licks.

Rabies affects the brain and is fatal once a person or animal shows clinical signs, but it can be prevented through the vaccination of animals and immediate medical attention in people exposed to an infected animal. The NICD reported mu
ltiple incidents of attacks on humans by aggressive Cape fur seals along the Cape coastline over the last few months.

This is the first instance of rabies being maintained in a marine mammal population, and the public is urged to take note of this new risk of rabies in Cape fur seals and keep a respectful distance from these animals. Meanwhile, deaths attributed to rabies from dogs have been reported in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and North West in 2024.

The public is encouraged to stay away from stray animals and refrain from touching animals they do not know. If an animal is suspected of having rabies, it should be reported to the local State veterinary office, local welfare authority, wildlife rescue center, Protected Areas Management Authority, or the police.

Animals with rabies may exhibit abnormal behavior and signs of brain disease, such as excessive drooling, paralysis, inability to swallow, continuous vocalization, aggression, weakness, and a comatose state. Any mammal can become infecte
d, including dogs, cats, livestock, jackals, foxes, mongooses, and Cape fur seals.

Rabies occurs in all nine provinces of South Africa, but is particularly common in dogs in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. Rabies in Cape fur seals travels along the coastline of the Northern Cape, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape up to Algoa Bay.

If bitten, scratched, or licked by an animal suspected of having rabies, individuals should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water and seek immediate treatment at the nearest clinic or hospital to prevent rabies virus infection. For more information about rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, visit the NICD website.

To keep pets safe, all dogs and cats must be correctly vaccinated against rabies throughout their lives, as required by law. Pet owners are advised to keep their dogs under control or on a leash during walks to avoid contact with other animals. For rabies vaccinations, inquire with local state veterinarians, animal health technicians, private veterina
rians, or animal welfare organizations.