Phocine distemper virus outbreak in the Moray Firth common seal population: an estimate of mortality.

Changes in abundance at haul-out sites were followed, and data on the number of deaths collected, to describe the pattern and extent of mortality resulting from the 1988 phocine distemper virus outbreak in the Moray Firth common seal population. Mortality in this population was estimated to be between 10% and 20%, and was low in comparison to some other parts of the North Sea. Most deaths occurred in the 3-month period from 1st August 1988, and there was no sign of a resurgence of the disease during the 1989 breeding season or moult.