Seal death toll hits 100 as virus takes hold

More than 100 seals are reported dead since a virus hit Irish waters earlier this month.

Harbour seals were the worst affected by the Phocine Distemper Virus, the presence of which was confirmed on October 9, when a dead seal was taken off the Aran islands.

Most of the seal deaths occurred along the Galway and Mayo coastlines.

The Irish Seal Sanctaury are now reiterating a call on the government to set up a National Emergency Hotline, so the epidemic can be monitored and seals saved in time.

The killer virus has killed 20,000 seals so far in Europe and almost 3,000 in England.

The Irish Seal Sanctuary want the Department of Environment to fund support for the group.

However, to date, Minister Martin Cullen's department has not responded.