Some seal deaths linked to flu found in wild birds
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com Wednesday, December 21, 2011
PORTSMOUTH —
The death of 162 seals that washed up along the New England coast this year could be linked to a virus similar to one found in birds.
Since Sept. 1, officials have been investigating the unusual occurrence, saying they are still collecting data, testing and continuing research.
The dead harbor seals were collected along Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts coasts by the New England Aquarium.
"This
H3N8 virus is usually associated with wild birds, and a separate group of H3N8 infects horses and dogs," said Dr. Hon Ip, of the USGS's National Wildlife Health Center. "
This is the first time that a virus which is similar to the H3N8 avian influenza virus has been associated with a large scale mortality in marine mammals."
The influenza A virus subtype has never before been seen in harbor seals. Officials said it caused the death of at least five of the 162 animals that washed up on New England shores this year. Experts believe that influenza A virus caused a bacterial pneumonia which was responsible for the death of the seals.
In most cases
in the past where land animals were infected with the H3N8 virus and suffered upper respiratory infections, they recovered. This is the first time it has been seen in harbor seals.
Tests have only been completed on five of the animals. Many may not be viable candidates for testing because their remains were badly decayed, said Maggie Mooney-Seus, communications officer for the Northeast Region National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Service.
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