October 18, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 15 . . Officials Fear More Stranding Reports Possible FROM PAGE 14 Through the end of August, there had been nearly 300 cases of dead or dying dolphins recovered or rescued in the mid-Atlantic region, compared to the historic mean over the same time period of 26. In August, NOAA Fisheries officials declared the situation an “unusual mortality event” and began conducting research, and in many cases necropsies on the deceased marine animals. After completing initial diagnostic tests on more than two dozen animals from all of the affected states including Maryland and consulting with disease experts, NOAA Fisheries has determined the likely cause of the unusual mortality event is a virus, more specifically a cetacean morbillivirus, which is characterized as similar to measles in humans or canine distemper in dogs. Dittmar said the two deceased bottlenose dolphins recovered from the beach in Ocean City last Friday were consistent with those diagnosed with the morbillivirus, but the third, the common dolphin, was not, at least early on. “The common dolphin did not show consistency with the morbillivirus,” she said. “More samples will be treated, but we don’t suspect it to be related to the other cases.” Dittmar said the number of bottlenose dolphin strandings has waned somewhat in recent weeks, but the lower numbers are not necessarily indicative of a reversal of the summer-long trend. She said the apparent decline could be the result of limited access to areas where deceased or dying dolphins are washing up in yet another example of the long reach of the ongoing federal government shutdown. “We’re starting to see lower numbers of bottlenose dolphin strandings, but part of that is not having access to Assateague and other areas closed because of the shutdown,” she said. “The same thing is true in Virginia and North Carolina where there are a lot of federal lands not accessible because of the shutdown. We anticipate when the government opens back up we’re going to see a lot of unreported incidents.” Dittmar said this week it was uncertain if the rough seas and high winds associated with the Nor’easter that lingered off the coast for several days last week and into the weekend contributed to the three strandings in Ocean City on Friday. “The Nor’easter last week may have contributed to what we saw last week,” she said. “We don’t believe it was the primary reason, especially in the case of the two bottlenose carcasses, but it might have contributed to it.” Exclusively At Zen Spa From Edge Systems Facials• Massage Nails • Body Treatments Full Body Waxing Mineral Makeup Application Zen Spa provides 10 treatment rooms and boasts the area’s only couples room.  Voted Best Day Spa In Delaware THANKS TO THE READERS OF COASTAL STYLE MAGAZINE A 4,000 Sq. Ft. Day Spa Located On Rte. 54, One Mile North Of Ocean City and 4 Miles South Of Bethany Beach, Delaware. Large Parties Welcome • 302-988-1750 • Like Us On Facebook ✕✡✒ ✝¤✝❘❘✡✮✌✮☛✘ Open Wednesday-Sunday Daily At 4 p.m. ✡✠✮✡✘✠✝❜✱¤✧❛✗✘✠✝❜¤ ✳¤✦❛✮✠✝❜w $19.00 Entrees For Everyone! ✮✍✏❜✿ The Twining Family Just North Of O.C., Just South Of Bethany ✡✮✒✌✟✎¤✘✝✮✠ www.nantucketsrestaurant.com 302.539.2607 • 800.362.DINE