Rabies in
Cape Fur Seals 

How Rabies Spreads and How It Is Treated

The most common way people and animals contract rabies is through bites from infected animals. Once bitten, the virus travels through the nervous system to the brain, where it causes inflammation and severe symptoms. It can take the virus months, sometimes even years to reach the brain, depending on the location of the bite. Bitten animals are only contagious once the virus has reached their salivary glands, usually a few days before showing any clinical signs of the disease. An animal can be carrying the virus, but it is not contagious yet because the virus has not reached the salivary glands. 

Why Rabies in Cape Fur Seals Is So Alarming

Rabies does not typically affect marine mammals. Rabies was first detected in Cape fur seals in South Africa after several animals showed unusual behavior and neurological symptoms. This finding was unexpected, as rabies is typically a disease of land-based mammals and had not been documented in marine wildlife. 

How do you recognise rabies in an animal? 

Rabies typically shows symptoms once the disease has reached the brain. The most common symptoms include behavioural changes, agitation, fear, aggression, unusual friendliness in wild animals, and excessive salivation, often perceived as foaming from the mouth. Hydrophobia, the fear of water, is one of the most commonly known symptoms of rabies in land based animals. It is thought to be caused by painful muscle spasms in the throat and larynx, which make it difficult and painful to swallow. When an animal tries to drink water or swallow saliva, these spasms can be triggered, leading to severe discomfort and fear associated with the act of drinking.