Walvis Bay – A chilling new dimension has been added to Namibia’s ongoing battle with rabies, as authorities confirm the first ever case of the deadly virus in a Cape fur seal. The discovery at the Walvis Bay Lagoon in the Erongo Region has sent ripples of concern through conservation and public health circles, marking a worrying expansion of the disease’s reach.
The infected seal, exhibiting “clinical signs highly suspicious of rabies,” was first observed on Friday, June 13. Its condition rapidly deteriorated, and it succumbed to the illness the following day. Tests conducted at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Windhoek on Monday, June 16, conclusively confirmed the presence of the rabies virus.
Acting Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Johannes Shoopala, in a statement, underscored the gravity of the situation. “Rabies is a fatal disease,” he warned, reminding the public that while the virus is endemic in Namibia and typically spread by dogs, this is an unprecedented development for marine mammals in the country.
The news resonates with a recent, equally alarming, precedent in the region. South Africa first reported rabies in Cape fur seals in June 2024, marking what was then the first known outbreak of the disease in marine mammals in Southern Africa and one of only a handful globally. This Namibian case now solidifies a troubling trend, raising questions about the virus’s ecology and potential transmission pathways in coastal environments.
Rabies, most commonly transmitted through the bite and saliva of an infected warm-blooded animal, is almost invariably fatal in humans if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered before symptoms emerge. This makes public awareness and swift action paramount.
The Directorate of Veterinary Services has issued an urgent public health advisory, urging residents and visitors to the coast to be vigilant for specific signs in seals that could indicate rabies. These include aggressive behavior, such as attempting to bite people or objects, disorientation, uncoordinated movement, unusual vocalizations, excessive salivation or foaming at the mouth, and eventual paralysis or lethargy before death.
Given that rabies is a state-controlled disease under the Animal Health Act, the public is being strongly cautioned to exercise extreme caution. “Avoid all contact with Cape fur seals regardless of their demeanor,” Dr. Shoopala emphasized, appealing to the public to keep children and pets well away from the animals. Any suspected cases must be immediately reported to the State Veterinarian, Fisheries officials, environment officials, local municipal authorities, or the SPCA.
The confirmed case in Walvis Bay serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of rabies and the unpredictable ways in which it can emerge. As authorities scramble to understand the implications of this new development, the call for heightened public awareness and responsible behavior along Namibia’s coastline has never been more urgent.
