First ever Rabies outbreak in Seals recorded in South Africa

A disturbing trend has emerged in South Africa, where an outbreak of rabies has been reported among seals, marking the first recorded instance of the virus spreading among sea mammals.

The discovery was made after a dog was bitten by a seal on a Cape Town beach and subsequently became infected with rabies.

This prompted authorities to conduct rabies tests on 135 seal carcasses, revealing a significant number of positive cases.

Researchers believe that the virus may have been transmitted to seals by jackals in Namibia, where they hunt seal pups along the coastline.

The genes of the rabies virus found in the seals matched those found in black-backed jackals in Namibia, suggesting a cross-species transmission.

Furthermore, the virus has been found to be spreading among seals, with most of the virus sequences being closely related.

Rabies is a viral disease that spreads through saliva, usually via bites or when animals lick and groom each other.

The disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear and can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches.

Initial symptoms include fever, headache, and abnormal sensations at the site of exposure. As the disease progresses, symptoms can become more severe, including fever, nausea, vomiting, violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, paralysis, and coma.

The outbreak has raised concerns about the potential risks to human health, particularly in areas where humans and seals interact frequently.

Authorities have started vaccinating seals at popular Cape Town harbors, but there are concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine in seals and the logistical challenges of vaccinating a large number of seals that migrate along a vast coastline.

Experts are working to understand the transmission dynamics and contain the outbreak.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring the situation, but so far, there’s no clear evidence that this will be a long-term issue.

However, the outbreak highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between wildlife experts, health authorities, and local communities to prevent the spread of diseases between animals and humans.

Rabies:

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the nervous system of mammals, including humans.

It is caused by a lyssavirus that attacks the central nervous system, leading to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).

The disease is primarily spread through animal bites, scratches, and licks, with dogs being the primary carriers, responsible for 99% of global rabies cases.

The transmission of rabies occurs when infected saliva enters the wound or mucous membranes. Other common carriers include cats, bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and jackals.

Recently, an outbreak of rabies was reported among seals in South Africa, marking the first recorded instance of the virus spreading among sea mammals.

Symptoms of rabies can take anywhere from two to ten days to two years to appear, depending on the severity of the bite and the individual’s immune system. Initial symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue.

As the disease progresses, numbness or tingling around the bite/scratch site, agitation, aggression, or unusual behavior, fear of water (hydrophobia), increased salivation, paralysis or weakness, seizures, and coma can occur.

The disease progresses through four stages: incubation, prodromal, neurological, and coma.

The incubation stage sees the virus multiplying with no symptoms apparent. The prodromal stage, lasting two to ten days, presents flu-like symptoms.

The neurological stage, lasting two to seven days, is characterized by agitation, confusion, and paralysis. Finally, the coma stage, lasting hours to days, sees the patient become unresponsive.

Prevention and treatment are crucial in combating rabies. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) involves immediate vaccination and treatment after exposure.

Pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for high-risk individuals such as veterinarians and lab workers.

Animal vaccination is also essential, with regular vaccination of pets and livestock. Avoiding contact with wild animals is vital.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 55,000-60,000 human deaths occur annually due to rabies.

The disease is present in over 150 countries, emphasizing the need for global awareness and action. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, highlighting the importance of prompt medical attention.

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