-----Original Message-----
From: kevin_aitkin at r1.fws.gov [mailto:kevin_aitkin at r1.fws.gov]
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2002 9:46 AM
To: PNW_ANS-L at lists.pdx.edu
Subject: FW: NYTimes.com Article: Aquarium Seal Dies From West Nile

**************************************************

Subject: NYTimes.com Article: Aquarium Seal Dies From West Nile

October 30, 2002
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 9:36 a.m. ET

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) -- A harbor seal at the New Jersey State
Aquarium died from the West Nile virus, the first recorded
case in the United States of a marine mammal succumbing to
the disease.

Frank Steslow, vice president of biological programs at the
aquarium, said the 12-year-old seal had been ill for 10
days before it died Sept. 22. Officials were not able to
confirm the cause of death until last week.

The seal, named Sirrus, had lived at the aquarium's outdoor
saltwater exhibit since it opened 10 years ago. Aquarium
officials said he had no health problems and it wasn't
clear how he got the disease.

West Nile virus is typically spread through mosquito bites.
It has infected at least 3,399 people this year and killed
193, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.

Experts said there were no records of other marine mammals
dying from the disease in the United States. However,
officials at the National Zoo in Washington are awaiting
test results to see if a 23-year-old gray seal that died
Sept. 2 had the virus.

Earlier this month, concerns deepened about the disease
becoming more widespread in animals when Louisiana
officials said four dogs with encephalitis-symptoms had
West Nile. More than 100 species of birds also have been
infected.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-West-Nile-Seal-Death.html?ex=103

6993516&ei=1&en=65d55eb2a160919f

Kevin Li
Ballard, USA
kdli at msn.com



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