Stranded Dolphins and Hurricane Sandy: A Connection?

The epidemic of dolphins washing up dead on the New Jersey coast is a disturbing pattern which, according to the latest reports, has marine biologists fearing the worst: a virus outbreak which could kill hundreds more dolphins.

According to the Associated Press, the cause of death in the dolphins has been identified as morbillivirus. The diagnosis was made after several autopsies were done on the dead mammals by the scientists from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (D.E.P.).

However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (N.O.A.A.) scientific team is not yet ready to make that diagnosis definitively until more analysis is conducted (www.ap.com).

The total of dead dolphins on the New Jersey coast alone, as of the end of August, is 74 (www.app.com). The marine biologists involved have stated that the outbreak is the worst on the Atlantic coast since 1987.

Why are these dolphins washing up dead in such large numbers now? That is exactly the purpose for the federal government getting involved and sending the N.O.A.A. team to New Jersey to find out.

According to the reports by both the Associated Press and The Asbury Park Press, the scientists from the N.O.A.A. have stated that the morbillivirus could be accelerated between the dolphins due to pollution or some other environmental factors. They are currently investigating those factors to determine the cause for the spread of the virus.

The timing of this outbreak of the virus and the rapid spread could be tied to the pollution in the waters of the Atlantic coast resulting from the massive Hurricane Sandy which made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey in October 2012.

I am a lifelong resident of the New Jersey shore, and some dolphins have washed ashore in my hometown of Sea Bright, New Jersey. I have also heard accounts from friends and neighbors regarding the debris which has continued to wash ashore from miles away following Hurricane Sandy.

I think a connection exists between that level of pollution and the accelerated death toll of the dolphins along the New Jersey coastline.

The Virus

The signs of this morbillivirus for dolphins are:

·        Skin lesions

·        Brain infections

·        Pneumonia

(www.noaa.gov)

This particular epidemic trend of stranded dolphins along the Atlantic coast is being called an “unusual mortality event” by the N.O.A.A. and one where they are not completely prepared to label the virus as the ultimate cause (www.nj.com).

According to a report in the USA Today, dolphins inhale fast and exhale fast, which cause germs to be passed back and forth very rapidly. This is a possible explanation for the acceleration of the death toll in this event. 

The scientists also explained that they have no course of action to treat the virus because the vaccine will not be effective in open water, and some dolphins are dying from other causes which they have yet to determine (www.app.com). 

Is it safe for humans?

The N.O.A.A. and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (D.E.P.) has issued a statement saying that the virus and the other illnesses that are effecting the dolphins cannot be contracted by humans (www.noaa.com).

However, they do warn that anyone with an open wound should not swim in the ocean or other bodies of water where the dolphins have been stranded because of the increased risk for infection.

The Sandy connection

I am waiting for the N.O.A.A. to make a determination, but I think that the pollution from Hurricane Sandy has to have some correlation with this “unusual mortality event” with the dolphins.

Hurricane Sandy was a huge storm system which churned up the ocean for hundreds of miles off the coast prior to making landfall. The destruction it caused to homes and infrastructure has been well documented in the media, and the potential pollution it caused is a big issue moving forward.

The storm caused the sewage treatment plants on the New Jersey coast to shut down which pushed huge amounts of sewage into the waterways, the New York Daily News reported between New York and New Jersey over 10 billion pounds of sewage entered the waterways (www.nydailynews.com).

That type of pollution has to have some repercussions, and I think we are seeing it with the dolphins in this terrible event. I have lived at the New Jersey shore for over 30 years and I do not remember anything like this outbreak. I think it has to be linked to the horrible event which was Hurricane Sandy.

Whether the scientists make that connection or not is going to be very interesting to see in the weeks and months ahead.