Dr Joubert says there were 18 pups dead as well, presumably unborn. Better like that, rather then them being alone in a den already...it is that time of year.
He says it is not an exotic disease, affecting WD all over the continent for a long time. Stevenson-Hamilton even remarked how the populations would increase then crash inexplicably 100 years ago!

Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596