Influenza virus is the cause of seal death

Seehundsterben: No traffic jam virus detectable

20/10/2014

Like Dr. Hendrik Brunckhorst, spokesman for the National Park Administration in the Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein in Tönning states that since the beginning of October an increased number of seriously ill and dead seals has been recorded on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein. So 350 seals were found on Heligoland, Sylt, Amrum and Foehr. To determine the cause, some of the animals were sent to places at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Büsum and Hanover.

The result of the investigations was that the animals are suffering from pneumonia, have lungworms and are also infected with streptococci. The cause of the death is probably an influenza virus, which was found in most of the animals examined. This will now be examined in more detail. The feared traffic jam virus, which had led to a mass extinction among the seals in 1988 and 2002, could not be proven. At that time 60 or 40 percent of the stocks had died. Overall, the mortality rate among the animals then also below that of the two distemper epidemics at that time.

Keep distance, leash dogs
In general, people should keep their distance from the animals, never touch them and keep dogs on a leash in order to prevent possible transmissions of the pathogens. Because in principle, the seals can transmit some viruses and bacteria to humans.

If the death of the seal was to intensify or spread out, the National Agency for Coastal Protection, National Park and Marine Conservation (LKN-SH) and the seal hunters were well prepared. Detlef Hansen Head of the National Park Administration: „Together with the other authorities and institutions involved, we have further developed the action plan, which has proven its worth in the case of the distemper epidemic, with its 'green-yellow-red' traffic light system. He determines for the entire West Coast how larger quantities of dead animals are salvaged and disposed of. We are now in the green level, where everything can be handled with the usual logistics. Most of our work is done by our specially trained seal hunters, who work as volunteers. They have a literally heavy job. Sometimes they have to redeem dying animals from their suffering. My respect and thanks go to her.“

The seal population was not endangered, so Hansen: „We assume that the seal flu is a natural process. Our national parks are places where natural processes are possible and wanted. Here, the principle of 'nature let nature be' applies. Nature, but these are not just blooming salt marshes and huge flocks of birds. Even death is part of nature“, Hansen continues. (Jp)

Picture: Roland Pfeifer