Polar bears share symptoms of a mystery disease
A mysterious disease could be spreading to Alaskan polar bears. We're taking a closer look at this devastating story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:
Polar bears now have symptoms of mystery disease also found in seals and walruses
Submitted by JanforGore
The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the same symptoms that killed seals off and infected walruses are now showing up in polar bears. Affected polar bears are were found with patchy hair loss and oozing sores on their skin. Unlike the sickened seals and walruses, the nine polar bears from the Beaufort Sea region seem otherwise healthy.
The USGS is coordinating with agencies studying the other animals to investigate whether there is a link, he said.
"There's a lot we don't know yet, whether we're dealing with something that's different or something that's the same," he said.
The community responds:
jubal: "This really makes be hopping mad. We are putting our planet on a course to ecological annihilation."
OlBlue: "This really sucks. These poor creatures could be the canary in a coal mine. I hope they get it figured out soon and that it doesn't spread further."
Novek: "So the symptoms match perfectly with those in radiation poisoning and the chances of a disease passing from predator to prey is pretty much nill. Sounds like someone's not letting something out about the amount of radiation over there."
Join the discussion -- or head over to the Community page for more popular stories from the community.
(Photo: Getty Images)
-
- groups:
- Current.com Blog
-
- tags:
- From the Community
