Cape Town ocean enthusiasts are flocking to get vaccinated for rabies amid mounting concern over rabies-infected seals.
Coastal stakeholders report an upsurge of seal attacks on humans in recent months, an average of about two a week. The rabies virus is fatal if left untreated.
The attacks have prompted an urgent vaccination rollout, with stocks reportedly under pressure as ocean sport enthusiasts request pre-exposure prophylaxis. Divers, surfers and open ocean swimmers are actively sharing vaccine information via their social media networks.
Anybody bitten by a suspected rabid animal should urgently receive post-exposure prophylaxis treatment which, if administered timeously, is highly effective in preventing the disease.
The City of Cape Town has confirmed taking pre-emptive action to protect vulnerable staff. “All City staff working directly with seals within the coastal management branch have been vaccinated for rabies,” the City told TimesLIVE Premium.
“The rabies vaccine is only available from an external provider. The City has an authorised job category list for all the vaccines that are available for City employees, including rabies, based on the risk. The general public will have to consult their own medical practitioner or nearest medical facility to obtain medical advice or services.”
Curatorial staff at Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium have also been vaccinated, as well as Victoria and Alfred Waterfront staff tasked with monitoring the resident seal population. “I've been vaccinated for a long time because I work with dogs and started working with otters,” said Claire Taylor. “Just after that came the first [rabies] positive seals.”
“We decided that all the divers, pretty much all the curatorial staff, should be vaccinated,” Taylor said, adding that at that stage there was no shortage of vaccine stocks.
However, an open ocean swimmer told TimesLIVE Premium he had had battled to get full two-shot pre-exposure treatment due to surging demand. “I found that we can only get one vaccine shot but not the second one which needs to be taken seven days after the first.”
Another swimmer involved in organising open ocean swims confirmed mounting concerns within the swimming community. “I think if you are out there a lot then the vaccine minimises your risk — it's no different to having your ordinary vaccines you have when you're younger,” he said.
“This is serious. People need to respond appropriately.”
The provincial government did not respond to queries about vaccine supplies.
A notice on the National Institute for Communicable Diseases website urged caution in proximity to seals: “Persons who may be at frequent or continual risk of exposure, such as frequent swimmers, divers, surfers or persons working with seals, should consult their healthcare provider and assess the need for rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis.
“Rabies in seals has historically been rare, but recent reports from May 2024 have highlighted several cases of Cape fur seals testing positive for rabies along South Africa’s Western Cape and Northern Cape coastlines. While no other marine mammal species have been affected, these incidents have raised concerns about potential risks. As seals are known to travel long distances along the coast, and often come into contact with humans, it’s important to understand the risks and know how to respond in case of an encounter with an aggressive seal or if you’re attacked,” the memo says.
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