Cape Town’s coastline, known worldwide for its scenic beauty and thriving marine life, is now facing an escalating public health concern as rabies continues to spread among local seal colonies.
City officials have confirmed that the virus has become endemic within Cape fur seal populations along the Cape coastline, raising alarm for beachgoers, surfers, boaters and wildlife response teams.
According to Gregg Oelofse, from the City of Cape Town’s coastal management department, more than 90 confirmed rabies cases have been recorded in local waters over the past two years. Authorities believe the real number may be significantly higher due to the difficulty of monitoring marine wildlife across a large coastline.
“The disease remains present at a relatively low but constant level, with periodic flare-ups,” Oelofse said, describing the situation as a “slow burn with flares”.
The most recent spike has been observed in the Hout Bay area, where aggressive seal incidents have led to direct safety interventions.
Unusual aggression raises public risk
Wildlife and rescue officials say infected seals often display behaviour that differs sharply from normal territorial aggression.
Cape fur seals are naturally vocal and active animals, especially in large colonies, but rabies-related behaviour includes sudden, unprovoked attacks and unusual biting patterns.
Authorities have warned that seals biting rocks, boats, buoys, kelp or seemingly invisible objects may be showing neurological symptoms linked to infection.
Other warning signs include disorientation, muscle twitching, repeated snapping motions and an abnormal lack of fear toward humans.
Officials stress that any seal attempting to repeatedly climb onto boats, surfboards or kayaks should be treated as a potentially high-risk animal.
This warning follows a recent incident in Hout Bay where a seal attacked kayakers, prompting emergency teams to track and humanely euthanise the infected animal. A second sick seal was later identified and removed near Duiker Island.
The City has since intensified marine surveillance operations, using boats to monitor colonies more regularly.
Response measures and public safety protocols
Cape Town authorities, together with the National Sea Rescue Institute, have introduced a coordinated response plan aimed at reducing human exposure and limiting transmission within seal colonies.
The main strategy involves the rapid and humane removal of visibly sick animals from the water.
This approach is intended to protect the public, reduce viral spread to other seals and prevent prolonged suffering of infected wildlife.
The NSRI has also implemented enhanced medical readiness measures across rescue stations.
Darren Zimmerman, station commander at NSRI Simon’s Town, has introduced specialised seal-bite treatment kits across rescue vessels and stations. These include dedicated flushing solutions and step-by-step first-aid protocols for suspected rabies exposure.
In addition, crews have been advised to avoid in-water training exercises in areas with dense seal populations and to maintain constant visual surveillance during maritime operations.
Officials have also administered preventative rabies vaccinations to frontline workers, including veterinarians and wildlife rescue teams who are regularly exposed to marine animals.
Public safety guidance remains clear: anyone bitten or scratched by a seal should immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and seek urgent medical treatment for post-exposure rabies care.
Residents and visitors are urged to report any suspicious seal activity immediately.
This outbreak marks one of the most serious marine wildlife rabies incidents recorded along South Africa’s coastline in recent years and reflects growing concern over zoonotic disease risks in urban coastal environments.
Source: City of Cape Town Coastal Management Department and NSRI.
