 Thousands of seals have succumbed to the virus |
Scientists have announced a breakthrough in fighting a disease that has killed an estimated 22,000 seals in the North Sea since the start of the winter. Many dead seals have been washed up along the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coasts in the second major outbreak of the deadly distember virus in five years.
Six rescued common seal pups have been returned to the wild after being treated with the first effective "live" vaccine against Phocine Distemper Virus - PDV.
The company behind the breakthrough, Milton Keynes-based biotech firm Intervet UK, normally makes medicines for farm animals and domestic pets.
They say the new seal vaccine will provide antibodies against PDV for a prolonged period.
Combat any future outbreak
The virus is carried by both species of North Sea seal, the threatened "common" seal and the more numerous grey.
Grey seals rarely succumb to the disease, but act as carriers to pass it on to the common seal population where it is rapidly fatal.
Rescue organisations say the vaccine means they will be far better equipped to combat any future outbreak.
Intervet UK Ltd will now apply to the Government for a licence to manufacture the vaccine commercially, so that it can be distributed throughout Europe before another outbreak strikes.
One-Minute World News 
News services
Email this to a friend 
Printable version 
