RYE — The one thing New England Aquarium senior biologist and necropsy specialist Katie Pugliares hopes people take away from recent findings about seal influenza is to steer clear of wild animals at the beach.

A paper published July 24 in an online access magazine called mBio describes a strain of influenza identified in five harbor seals that washed up on New Hampshire's coastline last fall that was transmitted through birds.

In total, 162 young seals turned up dead in the region from southern Maine to northern Massachusetts over a one-month period.

Researchers have identified the cause of death as an influenza A virus “H3N8.”

The report is drawing attention because researchers have identified the strain as a type of avian flu that was transmitted to a mammal, and then spread through a mammal population.

“The most important thing we found was the direct link from birds to seals,” Pugliares said. “It doesn't happen frequently, but it is possible.”

Researchers believe this discovery could indicate that influenza strains are capable of mutating in such a way as to then be transmitted to humans, although H3N8 is not such a strain.

She said this was an eye-opener, especially as human and seal habitats continue to cross over.

“We do tell beachgoers not to interact with these animals, live or dead on the beach, for this very reason: because you never know what these animals could be carrying or harboring,” she said.

Pugliares said funding to learn more about the virus and how it spreads does not exist, although it is an area aquarium rescue researchers are interested in exploring further.

The death of so many seals has been deemed an “unusual mortality event” by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is conducting a full investigation.

But Pugliares said researchers are confident from their study of five of the seals that influenza was the cause of death for the majority of the 162 seals found in the region last fall.

Since then, they have not seen any more abnormal mortality numbers, but are still keeping a close eye on the coastline.

Through their paper, they are hoping to educate beachgoers that staying away from wildlife is not only law, but possibly good for human health and safety, Pugliares said.

The hotline to report stranded seals or cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, for New Hampshire is (617) 973-5247. Pugliares said the earlier reports are made, the better for researchers.

gmacalaster@newstote.com