Scubaism

The public is being asked to help monitor Northern Ireland seal colonies following an outbreak of a deadly virus.

Phocine distemper virus (PDV) wiped out half of northern Europe’s seal population in 1998.

Conservationists from the Exploris seal sanctuary at Portaferry said PDV has been confirmed in seals further north in Europe. They fear it may spread to colonies in Northern Ireland as it did in an outbreak in 2002.

It is not clear what causes sudden outbreaks in seals but Tania Singleton of Exploris said it was “a vicious virus for which there is no treatment”.

“The virus weakens the seal’s immune system, leaving it open to infections like pneumonia,” she said.

The virus was first identified in 1998 when abortions and deaths were reported in populations of harbour seals along the Danish coast. Conservationists estimate that between 17,000 and 20,000 seals in north-western Europe died in that outbreak. PDV re-appeared in Scandinavia in 2002 and was later confirmed in a number of post-mortem examinations in Northern Ireland.

Local populations may have built up a degree of immunity in the course of that outbreak, but the fear is that many seals would die if the virus again spreads to these waters.

Nicky Finnegan of Exploris asked the public to help in monitoring colonies along the Northern Ireland coastline. She said no-one should approach a seal but, if they had concerns, they should tell staff at the sanctuary.

“We are ready to respond seven days a week,” she said.