The girl who was dragged by a sea lion may have 'seal finger'

The video of a Canadian girl being snatched by a sea lion and dragged underwater sent shockwaves across social media, after it went viral last week.

But unfortunately for the little girl, there's more.

The Vancouver Aquarium told NBC News that the girl is now being treated for a possible "seal finger" infection.

"The family saw media reports in which our marine mammal trainer recommended they call us, and they did get in touch." the spokeswoman Deana Lancaster told NBC News. "She did get a superficial wound and she's going to get the right treatment."

A serious, rare infection

Mycoplasma bacteria, which live in the mouths of sea mammals, is a major cause for seal finger infections, also called spekk finger (from "blubber" in Norwegian), according to a 2009 published case report

As reported by ABC News, untreated severe infections can lead to loss of fingers or limbs.

Lancaster explained that any time a member of the animal care team is bitten by a seal or sea lion, they're immediately treated with antibiotics.

A reminder of what happened

The girl was sitting on the dock's edge in Steveston Harbour in Richmond, British Columbia, when a massive sea lion suddenly leapt from the water, grabbed her dress and dragged her into the water. A man, believed to be a relative, immediately dived into the water and pulled the girl to safety, unharmed.

Some people blamed the girl's parents for the ordeal claiming they were feeding the sea lion -- despite signs warning not to do so -- an allegation which the girl's father denied:

"There was somebody beside them that was trying to feed them. Also, they weren't trying to take pictures or anything," the man told CBC News.