South Africa is shaken by this news! This time, rabies has spread to marine animals. Scientists emphasized that this is the first time this has been seen. State veterinarian Lesley van Helden said that rabies was detected in 24 South African fur seals that were found dead in various parts of the South African coast.
Helden said the virus had never been recorded spreading among marine mammals before. He said this was a first.
DOG BIT BY SEAL GOT RABIES
Authorities in South Africa first detected the rabies virus in Cape fur seals in June, after a dog was bitten by a seal in Cape Town. After the dog contracted rabies, researchers tested brain samples for rabies from 135 dead seals they had collected since 2021. Twenty newly collected samples were also tested, and those tests came back positive.
IT HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS
Authorities said a seal carcass collected in August 2022 also tested positive, meaning rabies has been present in the seal population for at least two years. Scientists are working to understand how rabies was transmitted to the seals, whether it has become widespread within the species and what can be done to control it. South African authorities are collaborating with international experts on the issue.
(AA)