Rabies at Sea: South Africa’s Unprecedented Seal Outbreak

Authors

• Andrew Rowan DPhil, WellBeing International, Inc.

Abstract

For the first time, rabies has become established and is spreading within a free-ranging marine mammal population. Cape fur seals along the southern African coast have been infected with a virus linked to black-backed jackals, with more than 100 confirmed cases in South Africa and Namibia. The outbreak raises concerns about transmission to other wildlife, domestic animals, and people, illustrating the importance of disease surveillance and the One Health approach to protecting human, animal, and environmental health.

Recommended Citation

Rowan, Andrew DPhil (2026) "Rabies at Sea: South Africa’s Unprecedented Seal Outbreak," WellBeing News: Vol. 8: Iss. 9, Article 2.
Available at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/wbn/vol8/iss9/2