West Nile Kills Aquarium Seal

A harbor seal at the New Jersey State Aquarium in Camden, N.J., is dead from the West Nile virus, according to aquarium officials.

The seal, named Sirrus, is believed to be the first marine mammal in captivity to die from the illness. The death adds one more type of animal to a growing number at risk from the mosquito-borne illness.

The harbor seals (like the one pictured, right) at the aquarium live outdoors year round, like they would in the wild. Caretakers said they suspect that 12-year-old Sirrus, who died in September, got the infection from a virus-carrying mosquito that bit him on the thin skin around his eyelids or lips.

Dr. Donald Stemme says that animal experts around the country have been on the lookout since the virus was discovered in North America three years ago. Last September, the Philadelphia Zoo lost several flamingos and rare penguins, causing zoo officials to limit the birds' hours outdoors.

Like in humans, there is currently no vaccine and no cure for the West Nile virus.

"Part of the problem wildlife experts are running into is that there's no quick test. It can take a month for the results to come back and the number of labs that do the testing is limited, and the human cases come first," Stemme said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of Wednesday, there have been 3,419 human cases this year nationwide and 196 of those have died. In New Jersey, 11 people have been infected, but no one has died.

The aquarium says it is using mosquito traps and taking steps to kill off mosquito larvae so it can protect its penguins and the exhibit's six remaining seals.

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