The City of Cape Town has advised the public to avoid seals following a confirmed case of rabies.
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In a Friday statement, the City announced that Provincial Veterinary Services confirmed a Cape fur seal off Big Bay’s coast tested positive for rabies.
‘This seal died on 22 May 2024 and the laboratory results came in earlier today,’ the statement read.
The statement continued:
As such, the public must take extra precaution to stay away from Cape Fur Seals as far as possible, and to not, under any circumstances, allow their dogs close to these animals. The City added that the precaution applied to the entire Cape Peninsula coastline.
‘Any person bitten by a seal is urged to seek immediate medical attention, and to notify the relevant authorities.
‘The same applies to any pet bitten by a seal.’
Hotline doctors for the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) have recommended post-exposure prophylaxis for anyone bitten by a seal.
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Picture: @southafricauk / X