Bird Flu Not Responsible For Alaska Ice Seal, Walrus Illness

Ribbon seal. Photo: Mike Cameron, NOAA's National Marine Mammal Laboratory

Scientists say a type of bird flu – H3N8 – is responsible for the death of the more than 160 harbor seals on the East Coast. Reports of sick seals began in September, which coincided with the reports of diseased seals in Alaska’s northern coasts. KNOM’s Laureli Kinneen reports there is no relation between the avian flu on the East Coast and the disease affecting iced seals and walrus in Alaska.

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Laureli Kinneen is a reporter at KNOM in Nome.

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