Earth Watch Report - Biological Hazards
Image Source : Wikimedia . Org
Bottlenose Dolphin - Tursiops truncatus A dolphin surfs the wake of a research boat on the Banana River - near the Kennedy Space Center.
Author NASAs
.....
| Biological Hazard | USA | State of Georgia, [Jekyll Island Coastal region] |  |
 |
| Description | |
| A disease that has killed hundreds of bottlenose dolphins in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States has been confirmed in Georgia, state wildlife officials said Tuesday. Four dolphins found dead at Wassaw and Jekyll Islands in November have tested positive for dolphin morbillivirus, Department of Natural Resources officials said. The virus is similar to measles and affects the lungs, brain and immune system of marine mammals. Marine wildlife suffering from morbillivirus may develop skin lesions, brain infections and pneumonia, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The virus, which follows the seasonal migration pattern of dolphins from the upper mid-Atlantic, is spread through inhalation of respiratory particles or direct contact between mammals, according to the NOAA. The virus can also spread through the eyes, mouth, stomach, skin wounds and the urogenital tract. Department of Natural Resources officials have said they've found 23 dead dolphins in Georgia since Nov. 15. The state usually sees 21 dolphins stranded on its shores per year, said state Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Clay George. He added that most dolphin deaths seem to be impacting migratory populations and not resident dolphins. Researchers identify dolphin populations by taking photos of their dorsal fins. "Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do to stop the disease from spreading," Clay said. "We can only hope that this is part of the natural cycle, and that populations will rebound to healthy levels soon." Outbreaks of morbillivirus killed harbor seals in the northeast in 2006, according to NOAA. Officials say it also killed dolphins in the northeast from 1987-88 and in the Gulf of Mexico in 1992 and 1994. More than 930 bottlenose dolphins have been found dead or dying on shores stretching from New York to Florida between July 1 and Dec. 1, 2013, according to the NOAA. Officials say the average was about 113 for the same time period between 2007 and 2012. | |
| Biohazard name: | Mass. Die-off (bottlenose dolphins) |
| Biohazard level: | 2/4 Medium |
| Biohazard desc.: | Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. |
| Symptoms: | |
| Status: | confirmed |
Marietta Daily Journal
Dolphins killed by measles-like virus
December 10, 2013 11:26 PM | 209 views | 0 
| 5 
| 
| 
| 5 | | Four dolphins found dead at Wassaw and Jekyll Islands in November have tested positive for dolphin morbillivirus, Department of Natural Resources officials said. The virus is similar to measles and affects the lungs, brain and immune system of marine mammals.
Marine wildlife suffering from morbillivirus may develop skin lesions, brain infections and pneumonia, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The virus, which follows the seasonal migration pattern of dolphins from the upper mid-Atlantic, is spread through inhalation of respiratory particles or direct contact between mammals, according to the NOAA. The virus can also spread through the eyes, mouth, stomach, skin wounds and the urogenital tract.
Department of Natural Resources officials have said they’ve found 23 dead dolphins in Georgia since Nov. 15. The state usually sees 21 dolphins stranded on its shores per year, said state Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Clay George. He added most dolphin deaths seem to be impacting migratory populations and not resident dolphins. Researchers identify dolphin populations by taking photos of their dorsal fins.
Read More Here
.....
Related articles
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hello and thank you for visiting my blog. Please share your thoughts and leave a comment :)