A dead whale was found on the bow of the “Grand Princess” cruise ship, when she reached an Alaskan port.
The 290-meters long Princess Cruises-owned ship entered into Ketchikan port with the carcass of the marine mammal stuck on her submerged bulbous bow. The bulbous bow is a device made to avoid wave-making.
The company’s spokesman Brian O’Connor said the company was surprised and saddened to discover the whale and that it is unknown how or when this happened, as the vessel felt no impact.
“It is also unknown, at this time, whether the whale was alive or already deceased before becoming lodged on the bow”, he added.
In addition, he informed that the cruise line has a “comprehensive whale avoidance program”, with relevant guidelines and speed reduction to avoid them.
According to local media, the mammal is reported as six metres- long and indicated as juvenile.
The incident is currently investigated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“At this time, NOAA Fisheries is coordinating to have the whale carcass towed to a nearby location suitable for a necropsy to determine the cause of death”, said NOAA in an official statement.
North Atlantic right whales can suffer from encephalitis viruses. In study literature, there are cases of West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis; Zika shares the same phylogenetic clade alongside these (with <97 percent support).
Three species of Culex mosquitoes were found to be Zika vectors in Mexico (including Culex tarsalis). When Culex tarsalis is naturally infected with Wolbachia, it is a better vector of West Nile virus.
North Atlantic right whales have been spotted as far south as the Bahamas and Mexico. And I believe they are suffering from Zika infections along with Wolbachia within their food supply.
Cal fin comprises 1/3 Aedes aegypti proteins and krill also contains both Aedes aegypti and Culex proteins.
For the past 5 to 7 years, Wolbachia-infected mosquito releases have been carried out in Brazil, Columbia, and Florida (and other regions of the world). My PSA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrSuDXGKaNY&t