European Virus Found in 8 Dead Seals

A virus that killed thousands of seals in Europe now has been found in three species of seals that have died along the Northeast coast of the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

The agency reported its findings late Friday and said that it soon will begin aerial surveys to determine the current seal population and whether more animals are dying than the eight that have been found so far.

An agency official said it was too early to know whether a mass epidemic could strike. The virus was responsible for the deaths of more than 17,000 seals in Europe during three months in 1988.

The dead animals found off the Northeast coast included the harbor, hooded and gray seals that typically range from Long Island Sound to Nova Scotia, but are occasionally found as far south as the North Carolina coast.

The NOAA said the “distemper” virus found in the seals attacks the immune system and is usually deadly. It is not communicable to humans, but pets are vulnerable. The symptoms include severe pneumonia and watery eyes.

The eight seals that have died all had acute cases of the disease. It is possible that the virus responsible for the deaths in Europe may have mutated to a non-epidemic form or that Atlantic seals may be more resistant to the virus, officials said.