Scientists say infections in seals would be the 1st known case of transmission from wild birds to marine mammals in Canada. The avian flu was detected in Quebec months ago and it’ snow impacting a new population of animals. Scientist in Quebec say they identified traces of avian flu in dead harbour seals that are washing ashore in the St. Lawrence.
There is a 250-kilometre long ecosystem that runs just north of Quebec City to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. According to Quebec’s regional director with the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre and wildlife health specialist at the Université de Montréal, Stéphane Lair said they have noticed a spike in harbour seal mortalities.
He explained that “this week we got some preliminary results that suggest that this virus is probably the cause. So far, 12 seals have tested positive for H5N1 but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are reviewing the results.
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