Deadly Seal Flu Virus Poses Threat to Humans

July 31, 2012 by legitgov

Deadly Seal Flu Virus Poses Threat to Humans --Strain closely related to one circulating in North American birds since 2002 30 Jul 2012 Seal flu could pose a new threat to human health, scientists have warned. A new flu virus identified in American harbour seals has the potential to pass to other mammals, including humans, say experts. The H3N8 strain was discovered after the death of 162 New England harbour seals last year. Post-mortem examinations of five of the animals showed they were killed by a flu infection.