Several news outlets are today reporting on a new strain of influenza that was responsible for seal deaths on the coast of New England last fall. 162 harbor seal pups mysteriously washed up dead on the shores of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Puzzled scientists conducted autopsies on five of the seals, which suggested that a respiratory infection had killed them. A common virus was discovered: a new strain of influenza that apparently evolved from H3N8, a bird flu virus first isolated in North American ducks in 2002. The virus’ potential leap from birds to mammals raises questions about whether it could jump to humans as well. Avian flu viruses have spread to humans before — notably H5N1, the scariest type. But while H5N1 spreads easily among birds, often killing them, it infects humans only rarely, although when it does it’s highly lethal. Since 2003, there have been 607 cases of human H5N1 worldwide, leading to 358 deaths.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19055961
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