The Alaska Dispatch follows up on the mysterious illnesses in seals, wlaruses and polar bears (March 13, 2013):

It began in July 2011. Indigenous hunters in Alaska’s Arctic noticed ice seals they rely on for food and other uses covered in oozing sores and losing hair. They were sick and some were dying. [...]

An ill ringed seal on the North Slope (Photo: North Slope Borough)

As of this month, despite the international group of scientists and researchers the declaration pulled together, no cause has been officially identified for the illness plaguing the ice seals.

[...] walruses and polar bears have turned up with similar ailments. [...]

Some of the animals were found to also have bleeding and swelling in their lungs, livers, lymph nodes and other internal organs. [...]

Preliminary tests to determine whether exposure from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant accident in Japan have also not revealed any answers. More tests on tissue samples for radionuclides associated with the event are being conducted, but those done so far have not yielded any direct connection. [...]

Adding to the puzzle is the fact that the cases have tapered off, suggesting either a viral infection or some unique convergence of multiple factors that hasn’t repeated itself. [...]