Killer Whale Unna Dies From Infection at SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas

Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
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SeaWorld announced the death of a killer whale named Unna on Monday, following months of her fighting a fungal infection. A team of medical professionals and the SeaWorld organization had been devising a plan to cure Unna of the Candida infection.

"Unna had been under the constant care of the SeaWorld veterinary team and outside experts for the past several months," SeaWorld wrote in a statement. "Unna suffered from a resistant strain of a fungus called Candida, and the team had developed a novel treatment plan in consultation with leading medical experts around the country. While there were some indications that the treatment was having a positive effect, Unna had remained in serious condition and under 24/7 care."

Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

The organization revealed in late September Unna was suffering from the infection, which wasn't responding normally to medicines typically used to treat the somewhat common infection. Unna would have turned 19 years old on Sunday. Unna was more than 17 feet long and weighed over 4,600 pounds, according to the organization.

"This is a difficult time for the SeaWorld team and all of Unna's many fans, and we thank you for your thoughts and well wishes," SeaWorld wrote in its announcement of the killer whale's passing.