Pamlico Health Update
Released 6/26/97

The Pamlico County Health Department has received numerous phone calls about recent news reports and asking about the safety of area waters. The department has been actively working with other agencies and University researchers to ensure the public’s access to accurate and current information. To date no documented fish kills have occurred in area waters. Should fish kill occur or bacteriological sampling in the state or county monitoring program suggest unsafe conditions the health department will take appropriate and immediate action.

"Right now, we do not have any fish kills in any of the areas of last week’s tests," said Jenny Lassiter, director of Pamlico County’s Health Department. "According to the information we have been provided, it is safe to swim in the waters in Pamlico County to the extent that swimming is safe in any natural body of open water," Lassiter said.

Last week, NCSU scientists reported low levels of Pfiesteria in Vandemere Creek near the Bay River and elevated levels in Hog Pen Gut, a small creek near the mouth of Green’s Creek.

Currently, Pfiesteria levels are being measured and studied to determine the effect on fish in the environment. At present, there is no recorded medical link of health risks to humans caused by the one-cell organism in nature, only in a laboratory setting.

"We have been saying all along if you catch a fish that has sores on it, don’t eat it,’ Lassiter said. "Just like we’ve been saying, don’t go swimming in an area where you see a fish kill or an are that has dead and floating fish." She said.

"We want everyone to know the whole story," Lassiter said. "Pamlico health officials have a communication network established with all State, private and University researcher groups performing testing in the area. This was set up to let the public know about the test results and that the situation is being monitored with the utmost concern for their safety."

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