The fatal virus which has claimed the lives of thousands of seals in Europe has been confirmed on this coastline. Scientists from the National University of Ireland, Galway, have identified it in one of four seals found dead last month on the Aran islands.
The harbour seal was one of four found dead on Inis Mor, which were reported by Dr Michael O'Connell on September 21st. Tissue samples were forwarded by Dr Jimmy Dunne and Ms Jane Gilleran of NUI, Galway's zoology department to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland.
That analysis confirmed the presence of morbillivirus infection in tissues of one of the seals. It is the first positive identification of the infection in a seal in Ireland during the current European epidemic. Yesterday, Dr Dunne was called out to examine two seal carcasses in Inverin, Co Galway. He said the virus was more than likely the cause of death.
About 15,000 seals have died in the waters of continental Europe in the past five months, including approximately 1,900 along the east coast of England. Last week, tests carried out in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development laboratory in Belfast indicated that the virus had spread to seals on the east coast of Scotland.
The virus affects both grey seals and harbour seals. There is a population of about 2,000 harbour seals on this coastline. Some 400 of these are in the Co Galway area, Dr Dunne said. The virus can affect between 5 per cent and 60 per cent of the population, and has the potential to "decimate" the harbour seal population here, he said.
The last major seal epidemic hit northern Europe in 1988 and killed over 18,000 seals, including hundreds along the coast of Northern Ireland. No cases were identified from the Republic at that time.
The virus is not known to be a risk to people, but the public has been advised not to approach sick seals or carcasses, which may be washed ashore during the current high tides. Scientists say there could be an increased risk of infection from other organisms carried by seals, particularly through infected bites or wounds. The virus could infect dogs not vaccinated against distemper, and so they should also be kept away.
Sightings of carcasses should be reported to either Dúchas (Tel: 01-6473000) or the Irish Seal Sanctuary (Tel: 01-8354370).