{"id":34149,"date":"2026-02-18T14:41:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vaccinatiepunt.nl\/?p=34149"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:42:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T12:42:58","slug":"rabies-uitbraak-oorrobben","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vaccinatiepunt.nl\/en\/rabies-uitbraak-oorrobben\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning: rabies outbreak in ear seals (seals)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Warning: rabies outbreak in ear seals (seals)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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There is an outbreak of rabies in ear seals in Namibia and South Africa. Ear seals are sea lions that live along the coast of southern Africa - and are increasingly offered as tourist attractions, such as swimming or snorkelling activities with seals (\u2018swimming with seals\u2019). Precisely because of that direct contact with tourists, the outbreak is particularly worrying: meanwhile, visitors have already been bitten by an infected ear seal. What does this mean for your trip?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is going on?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rabies <\/a>was already endemic in South Africa<\/a> and Namibia<\/a>, but its spread to ear seals is new. The virus was first identified in an ear seal in South Africa in 2024. Since then, there have been several incidents, including a surfer being bitten several times. Namibia followed in June 2025 and infected animals were found again in both countries in November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Measures: what to do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rabies is always fatal without treatment. Take these measures seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n