Disease outbreaks again in dolphins

The federal wildlife agency has just officially issued a warning about spreading infections that are attacking the dolphin and have not found the exact cause.

The pathogen is identified in the waters off the east from New York State to Virginia, USA. National Marine Fisheries spokesman said at least 124 marine mammals drifted ashore, all dead or dying. In July alone, there are 89 dolphins, stranded, seven times more than normal.

The body of a dolphin washed ashore, infected with disease - (Photo: AP)

These deaths are sought by authorities trying to find the cause of this series of epidemics.

After examining the body of a dolphin, marine biologists discovered signs of morbilli virus infection, similar to the phenomenon of canine pain that devastated dolphins in the period 1987-1988. Then more than 700 dolphins were stranded from New Jersey to Florida in the outbreak and this is the biggest disaster in marine life history.

However, in addition to the above symptoms, this disease is accompanied by symptoms of pneumonia. Officials say it may take a long time to find the exact cause.

Agencies hope they will soon stop the disease before it spreads to 20,000 species of animals living in migratory groups near the coast; more than 81,000 live in deep waters off the continental shelf and a group of about 785 live in the Pamlico Sound area off the coast of North Carolina.