UPDATE ON PFIESTERIA
Reprinted with permission from The Pamlico News
6/25/97

Waters under watch

Health officials stress quality of information

By Maureen Milne Donald

State and local health officials think it's time the public got the complete story about Pfiesteria. A group met in New Bern Monday to come up with a way to assure that the most accurate information gets reported.

“Releasing raw data without any qualified or explanatory dialogue is both inappropriate and irresponsible,” said Bill Furney, spokesman for the N.C. Director of Health office. “We are seeing a knee jerk reaction to pfiesteria while we do not yet know the health implications of the organism.”

According to Furney, it's time to disconnect what's happened in the laboratory setting from what's going on in nature. The result of not doing this, according to Furney, can create panic when none is necessary.

“The public has a lot of information thrown at it from different directions.” Said Don Reuter, Public Information Officer for N.C. Environmental Management Division. “The media also gets a lot of information from different sides, making the situation even more confusing.”

According to Jenny Lassiter, Director of the Pamlico County Health Department and Division of Water Quality spokesman Ernie Seneca, there has yet to be a fish kill in Pamlico County this year.

“If you see floating dead fish, it's a fish kill.” Lassiter said. “There's got to be a common criteria in order to get accurate information out to the public. The public needs to know what we think may be going on.”

Lassiter said that there are numerous factors involved in determining both the nature and possible danger of water quality issues, “Until we have all the information, It simply doesn't make sense to draw conclusions.”

According to Reuter, Monday's discussion will probably lead to a public forum on Pfiesteria and water quality in general.

“We have a responsibility to educate, not frighten people with out first having the necessary information.” Reuter said. “Getting the word out on a weekend is particularly important.”

The reports of recent outbreaks of Pfiesteria have fueled the need to improve communications according to Lassiter. The new Neuse River Rapid Response Team took tests both Thursday and Friday.

Lab test showed low levels of the microorganism pfiesteria but no dead fish in Vandemere Creek, said Seneca. Early reports erroneously indicated there had been a fish kill.

Vandemere Creek flows into the Bay River near where the Neuse flows into Pamlico Sound.

However, Friday's tests taken in Hog Pen Gut indicated a higher level of the organism although no floating dead fish have been spotted as yet.

Pfiesteria, a one-celled organism called a dinoflagellate has been found as far north as Delaware and as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. It can live in either fresh or salt water.

Scientists say the tiny organisms secrete a toxin that eats holes in fish, then slowly paralyzes their muscles and suffocates them.

There has been no evidence in nature of human illness related to pfiesteria, only in a laboratory setting, according to Lassiter. She believes common sense is the best defense.

“If you see dead fish floating in the water, don't swim.” Lassiter said. “And if you see a fish with sores on it, don't eat it. It's about as basic as that.”

Pat Elliot of Camp Seagull agrees that the best defense is a good offense. The camp regularly tests the water for any signs of Pfiesteria or any other potentially harmful organism.

“Our number one aim is to protect our campers and staff.” Said Elliot. “We routinely send samples to JoAnn Burkholder's lab for testing.”

Adding to the potential problems, according to Dr. Hans Paerl of the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences in Morehead City is excess nitrogen from agricultural operations and waste treatment plants which stimulates excess growth of algae and other organic materials. When bacteria break down the algae, the process robs the water of oxygen.

[Back to Top]

Further Information

Pamlico-nc.com [ Cover ] [ Contents] [Advertisers Index ] [Feedback]

© Copyright 2006-2008  Web Development by- Pamlico-NC.com, Inc. all rights reserved. |Legal Stuff|