A juvenile Cape fur seal bit several surfers participating in a longboard surfing competition at the eastern end of Muizenberg on Sunday. While no serious injuries were reported, this incident has raised questions about the health and behaviour of the local seals. Unconfirmed reports of canine rabies following a seal bite on Noordhoek beach have also sparked widespread speculation.
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However, according to the City of Cape Town, officials are investigating one confirmed case of canine rabies along with another unconfirmed case in the Capri community.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA Wildlife Department collected the remains of the seal involved in the attacks in Muizenberg and a comprehensive post-mortem was conducted on Monday 27 May 2024. Preliminary post-mortem findings by Sea Search researchers and an independent veterinarian, Dr Luca Mendes, with permission from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and Environment (DFFE), revealed that the seal was nutritionally healthy, weighing 16kg and having a 13mm fat layer.
There was no significant neck damage or evidence of blood restriction to the head, so strangulation was ruled out as a cause of death. However, significant bruising and severe subdural brain haemorrhage were found, indicating that blunt force trauma to the head was the most likely cause of death. This trauma could have been caused by a surfboard or another incident at the beach. The post-mortem included pollutant tests as well as Rabies tests in response to recent social media allegations. These outcomes are still pending.
‘The SPCA has initiated an investigation with the State Vet to confirm the Canine Rabies diagnosis from the Noordhoek area and, if confirmed, its origin,’ read a statement from the organisation. ‘The FIDSSA (Federation of Infectious Diseases of Southern Africa) reports only one case of Rabies in a seal globally, making Rabies diagnosis in seals extremely rare. It is highly unlikely that Rabies is present in our local seal population.’
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Beachgoers and coastal users are reminded that seals are natural predators, and while interactions between seals and humans are rare, they do occur. The CoGH SPCA, City Authorities, DFFE, Two Oceans Aquarium, and researchers are all working together to investigate these incidents and figure out why they occurred. In the event of a seal emergency, contact the SPCA at 0217004158/9.
‘It is always advisable to exercise caution when dealing with wild animals, for the sake of both human and animal safety. Please rely on reliable sources for information and avoid spreading speculative or unverified information from these sources. It is irresponsible to spread unverified information, putting our seals at risk and causing unnecessary anxiety.’
Meanwhile, officials from various departments within the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government are working closely to monitor and respond to the matter.
One confirmed case of rabies and a second suspected case in the Capri community on the Cape Peninsula have been reported.
The dogs were from the same household, and, as a precautionary measure, they had to be humanely euthanised to prevent the potential spread of this serious and often fatal disease. Veterinary officials are working to determine the source of the infection, as rabies infections in dogs are very rare in the Western Cape.
The public is urged to be vigilant and cautious of any unusual changes in behaviour in animals, especially dogs.
Rabies is a highly contagious viral disease that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal or licking of broken skin.
If bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, your first step is to clean the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes. This is a critical step and one that you can take immediately. Thereafter, go to the hospital/emergency room/clinic to seek further medical attention. Here, you will be assessed and arrangements made for you to receive post-exposure prophylaxis, which usually includes a series of rabies vaccinations as well as RIG (rabies immunoglobulins), depending on the nature of the bite. RIG are not available everywhere – the doctor will guide you as to your next step. The doctor can call the nearest public sector hospital to determine where vaccine and RIG stocks are available.
Note the animal’s location since it may need to be captured and monitored for any signs of rabies.
If you know the owner of the animal that bit you, get all the information you can, including its vaccination status and the owner’s name and address.
Notify your local health department and state vet, especially if the animal wasn’t vaccinated.
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Picture: Cape of Good Hope SPCA