ZWVNA Webinar - Rabies Virus in Cape fur seal.

Rabies virus, which causes one of the most lethal diseases of terrestrial mammals, has spilled into Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus – CFS) populations across South Africa and Namibia. This is the first ever population-wide outbreak of rabies in a marine mammal. This has created significant exposure risks for human infection, including known incidents of rabid seals biting people and causing severe injuries. Importantly, this unexpected leap into the marine environment raises a very real concern about the potential spread of rabies to the sub-Antarctic, which has historically been rabies-free. This presentation describes the epidemiology and presumed pathway of infection into CFS, whilst also discussing possible differential diagnoses relevant to other regions of the world, including Australia & New Zealand

Brett Gardner is originally from South Africa where he graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Pretoria in 2006. He has worked in Zoo & Wildlife medicine since…