Tourists and surfers are being warned to take extreme caution after an outbreak of rabies among seals on the coast of South Africa.
300,000 UK tourists visit the country every year and its waves are renowned for some of the best surfing in the world. Nine seals have tested positive for rabies in the first significant outbreak of its kind ever seen.
The alert covers a 400-mile stretch of coastline commonly home to Cape Fur Seals. Rabies is extremely serious and almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
The virus has a high mortality rate, making it one of the deadliest viral infections known to humans. Early intervention and treatment are crucial to prevent the virus from progressing.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk