The City of Cape Town is advising the public to stay as far away from seals as possible, effective immediately. The Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Services confirmed on Friday that a Cape Fur Seal off the coast of Big Bay had tested positive for rabies.
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‘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,’ stated the NSRI. ‘This precaution applies 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.’
‘The authorities will continue to investigate and will keep the public informed.’
If you have been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, the first thing you should do is clean the wound with soap and water for about 15 minutes. This is a critical step and one that you can take immediately. Then, go to the hospital/emergency room/clinic for further medical care. Here, you will be evaluated and arrangements will be made for you to receive post-exposure prophylaxis, which typically 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 advise you on your next steps. The doctor can contact the nearest public-sector hospital to see where vaccine and RIG stocks are available.
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Take note of the animal’s location because it may need to be captured and monitored for signs of rabies.
If you know who owns the animal that bit you, gather all available information, including the animal’s vaccination status as well as the owner’s name and address.
Notify your local health department and the state veterinarian, especially if the animal was not vaccinated.
Rabies outbreaks can be completely avoided by vaccinating dogs and cats. All dog and cat owners in South Africa are required by law to vaccinate their pets against rabies. Failure to vaccinate pets can lead to euthanasia if they come into contact with a rabid animal, and owners may be held liable for any damage caused if their animal becomes rabid.
Rabies vaccinations for animals are available throughout the province at private veterinary clinics, animal welfare organisations, and through Western Cape Veterinary Services’ pre-arranged vaccination campaigns.
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Picture: NSRI