MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Western Cape Department of Agriculture issued a media statement on 11 June regarding a seal in Cape Town confirmed to have rabies.
Dr Greg Hofmeyr, marine mammal biologist at Bayworld, Gqeberha, brought this into context for the Mossel Bay area.
According to a statement by the Mossel Bay Municipality, Hofmeyr said there had been a single confirmed case and two suspected cases in the Western Cape only.
“While it is unlikely that many seals have been infected, we should all be careful when responding to live seals ashore, or dealing with seal carcasses.
“If there is a worry that any seal is behaving atypically, or is excessively aggressive, please contact Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (S.M.A.R.T.) on 072 227 4715."
According to the Department of Agriculture, the Western Cape Veterinary Services, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), City of Cape Town Coastal Management and other partners are working to establish the origin and extent of the outbreak through further sampling and testing.
Once determined, a management plan will be formulated. Rabies has not been detected in seals in Southern Africa, and this is one of very few detections in seals worldwide.
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