Public health warning as cat parasite spreads to Arctic beluga whales

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6. Melting ice + increased pet cats = parasites in the water

The most likely cause of the outbreak was infected cat faeces washing into waterways and on to the sea, where fish and other marine organisms became contaminated and ultimately eaten by the whales.

Given that water supplies might be contaminated, the Inuit populations have been advised to filter or boil their water to destroy the parasite. The organism is hardy, and will survive immersion in chlorine or sulphuric acid, but can be killed by heat, desiccation or freezing.

The rise in pet cats among the Inuit and a warming climate which helps the pathogen survive until it finds a host could be to blame for the emergence of the infection, Grigg told the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago.

"Ice is a major eco-barrier for pathogens. What we are seeing with the big thaw is the liberation of pathogens gaining access to vulnerable new hosts and wreaking havoc," he added.