Rabies in marine mammals: Implications for Wildlife Health, Public Health and Transboundary Risk

Since 2024, over 100 cases of rabies have been confirmed in Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) in South Africa and Namibia. Testing of retrospective samples and phylogenetic analysis indicate that the outbreak began several years before it was detected and that sustained transmission is occurring within the seal population.

An initial study suggests that this represents a novel host shift event, originating from a single introduction of a dog-related rabies virus variant maintained by blackbacked jackals in Southern Africa.