"But when this disease happens it's like a zombie apocalypse," said one researcher.

A dead whale has washed up in the same area of western Nova Scotia that has seen scores of dead herring, starfish, clams and lobster litter the shoreline - but fisheries officials say it's too early to say whether the deaths are related.

Massive numbers of dead starfish, clams, lobsters and mussels have washed up on a beach in western Nova Scotia, puzzling scientists.