Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) Outbreak in Seals
In 1988 an outbreak of Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) caused the death of over 18,000 seals in Northern Europe. The disease was first detected in seal populations located around the island of Anholt in Denmark, and spread over several months to infect seals in the Wadden Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Irish Sea. In the UK, the disease was first reported from the Wash in July before spreading to the East Coast of Scotland in August / September. The population of common seals in the Wash was the worst affected, with almost half of the population dying as a result of the epidemic. The mortality rate in Scotland was much lower, with less than 10% of the common seal population affected in most areas.
During June and July 2002, a virus virtually identical to the 1988 strain of PDV was again detected in the Kattegat and Dutch Wadden Sea areas. The 2002 outbreak showed similarities to 1988: same original location, similar time of year (start of the breeding season) and a similar level of population density.
Less severe than the 1988 epidemic, the 2002 outbreak affected approximately 4,000 seals in the UK. These seals were mainly located in the Norfolk / Wash area, although cases of the disease were found in most waters around the UK coastline . The first Scottish case of PDV was confirmed at Dornoch in the Moray Firth on September 11 2002, after which the virus spread around the Scottish coastline to infect over 900 seals in theEast & West Highlands, Orkney, Grampian, Borders, Lothian, Fife and Tayside.
Now that the PDV outbreak is over, scientific research has been commissioned to determine what effect the epidemic has had on the UK seal population. Early results have shown that a large proportion of the seal population was exposed to the virus, but there is no indication that the population has been severely affected by the disease.
These pages contain further information about the disease, including frequently asked questions and useful links. Information may also be found on the co-ordination between the Scottish Government and other organisations in response to the 2002 outbreak.
See also:
Frequently Asked Questions about Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV)
The options for a vaccination programme of Seals against Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) in response to predicted PDV outbreak in 2002 - a discussion note that explores the options to vaccinate seals against Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) in the United Kingdom. It is a collaborative document and includes expert contributions from Animal Health, Defra, International Zoo Veterinary Group and RSPCA. However, it is not intended to be a read as a scientific paper.
Scottish Government Press Releases
Useful links