6 JULY 1998. CALIFORNIA:
MARINE MAMMAL (DISEASE?) "The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) was cited as saying Monday that the mysterious deaths of more than
50 California sea lions in May were blamed on a naturally occurring toxic
algae. Biologists from the National Marine Fisheries Service and National
Ocean Service added that an algal bloom created a biotoxin called domoic
acid that affects the nervous system of animals, causing seizures, vomiting
and sometimes death. Almost 100 adult and juvenile California sea lions
in obvious physical distress washed ashore in late May along the California
coast from San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz. Rescuers from the Marine Mammal
Center in Sausalito said that of the animals they treated, more than 50
died and about 38 were still alive."--ANIMALNET VIA Robert A. LaBudde ral@lcfltd.com
ON ProMED promed@usa.healthnet.org
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1997 El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO 97-98)