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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1997)
The Battalion r> ' i? f t Page Thursday • April 17,191 Terror in the water — Pfiesteria causes hysteria ► Nation A dinoflagellate is responsible for the deaths of a large num ber offish in North Carolina. The microorganism can be found from Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Millions of fish in North Carolina’s marshlands have turned up dead with ugly, open sores caused by a mi croorganism that feeds on their blood. Now some scientists suspect the organism preys on humans, too. More than a dozen fishermen, divers and others have found open sores on their bodies, reported feeling faint or complained of mem ory loss after coming into contact with brown water fouled with dead fish. The organism killing the fish is known as pfi esteria, and biologists call it “the cell from hell.” Pfiesteria has been likened to the piran ha of the microbial world. Yet a piranha would not stand a chance against this bloodthirsty menace. Scientists say the tiny organisms secrete a toxin that eats holes in fish, then slowly para lyzes their muscles and suffocates them. North Carolina State University researcher JoAnn Burkholder, who helped discover the one-celled organism in 1990, is convinced pfi- esteria’s toxins sickened her and as many as nine other researchers. She and a fellow re searcher said they suffered severe neurological symptoms, including memory loss, after han dling the organism in a lab in 1993. But she said state health officials seem more concerned with avoiding bad publicity that could hann tourism than investigating the pos sible danger to humans. Although the state committed $585,000 to study pfiesteria in 1995, the money is just now making its way to re searchers. “We still need to know an awful lot,” Burk holder said. “It’s an unfortunate tragedy that we don’t know more by now.” State officials defended their efforts, say ing they are collecting evidence and study ing the problem and there is no proof the or ganism attacks humans. “We continue to try to gather information within the limits of our resources,” said Mike Moser, director of epidemiology. Pfiesteria, a one-celled organism called a di noflagellate, has existed for thousands and per haps millions of years. It 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. Nowhere has the tiny killer been more preva lent than in North Carolina’s huge estuaries, where slow-moving saltwater is captured behind the islands of the Outer Banks. It has left millions of menhaden, shad and flounder dead and rot ting on the shores of the Neuse and New rivers. Burkholder’s research indicates the tiny creatures proliferate and take on a deadly form when exposed to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous—byproducts of human and an imal waste. She and others believe the organism be came a problem in North Carolina waters as the state’s hog farming industry and population rose dramatically over the past decade. David Jones, a New Bern fishermen who once ran a wholesale fish market on the river shores, is convinced pfiesteria is responsible for the severe memory lapses and other neurolog ical problems he says he suffers. Jones said his problems began in 1988, when he experienced what he thought was heat stroke while working his crab pots during a fish kill. “This stuff is real, and it’s bad, and I certain ly wouldn’t want you or anyone else to have it,” he said. “What’s inside of me eating me alive?” Questions about pfiesteria’s effects on peo ple have grown since a book tracing its discov ery, And the Waters Turned to Blood by Rodney Barker, was released earlier this month. State officials have criticized the book and com plained it created hysteria. Burkholder said proving people’s health problems are caused by pfiesteria is difficult be cause researchers have yet to isolate and iden tify its toxins. Until then, doctors will not be able to test people’s blood or tissues for evidence that the sores or other symptoms have been caused by pfiesteria. Dr. Chris Delaney, a New Bern physician who has treated two people with skin sores, criticized the state’s handling of the issue. “I don’t see this as high science, but the po litical lay of the land is such that there is a lot of resistance to change,” he said. Hale-Bopp makes big hit on Internet WASHINGTON (AP) -TheHa Bopp comet, which has put on! year’s best celestial fireworks,isas on the Internet, too. NASAsayste Hale-Bopp computer sites havete serving up 1.2 million images a da The NASA sites have 4,500 ages of the comet, submitted!)) fessional and back-yard astronoc* from around the world. The Comet HaleBopp Home includes a photograph made by; ifornia astronomer the night ate: | comet was discovered in July! 1 The address http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/comet' dex.html. Correction In a page 1 story in yesterfla Battalion, it should have readfcj Anderson, an educational adir tration graduate student, wontt^ Sasse Community and Unity te ► This day in history Today is Thursday, April 17, the 107th day of 1997. There are 258 days left in the year. On this date: In 1492, a contract was signed by Christopher Columbus and a representative of Spain’s King Ferdi nand and Queen Isabella, giving Columbus a commis sion to seek a westward ocean passage to Asia. In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazano reached present-day New York harbor. In 1790, American statesman Benjamin Franklin died in Philadelphia at age 84. In 1861, the Virginia State Convention voted to se cede from the Union. In 1941, Yugoslavia surrendered to Germany in World War II. In 1961, about 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of Fi del Castro. In 1964, Ford Motor Company unveiled its new Mus tang model. In 1964, Jerrie Mock of Columbus, Ohio, became the first woman to complete a solo airplane flight around the world. In 1969, a jury in Los Angeles convicted Sirhan Sirhan of assassinating Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. In 1970, the astronauts of Apollo 13 splashed down safely in the Pacific, four days after a ruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraft. Weather Today Tonight Tomorrow ■"A ► Today's birthdays Rock promoter Don Kirshner is 63. Composer-mu sician Jan Hammer is 49. Actress Olivia Hussey is 46. Rock singer-musician Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks) is 42. Actress Lela Rochon is 33. Singer Liz Phair is 30. Partly cloudy with iso lated showers. Partly cloudy. Partly cloudy with iso lated showers. Highs & Lows Today’s Expected 1 76°F Tonight’s Expected 58°F Tomorrow’s Expect High 80°F Tomorrow Nighii Expected Low 62°F IMPROVE YOUR WEALTH BY SHARING YOUR HEALTH in mu K 15940576 B K 15940576 8 otrvsrisn^j^s:: Here are 81 good reasons to become a plasma donor at Westgate Plasma Center: $80 dollars in your first two weeks, and you save lives. If you have any questions about donating Plasma or wish to set up an appointment please call us at 846-8855 or 268-6050. ^VALUABLE COUPONS*** NEW DONORS: Receive an extra $5 on your first donation. CURRENT DONORS: Receive an extra $10 when yon bring in a friend and they donate four times in their first 2 weeks. OLD DONORS: I Receive an extra $5 on your next donation | ifyou haven’t donated in I 2 or more months. I Work on More than your Tan this summer ... Take a class at UH-Clear Lake Lighten your fall load Get a head start on your degree Gain a promotion Take a course for the fun of it Three, five and nine week sessions beginning June 2. Call the Summer Session Hotline at (281) 283-2520, option 1 for a free catalog and class schedule. University of Houston O Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Boulevard • Houston TX 77058-1098 Ring Dance Discount SAVE On Vouil Dance Tuxedo le rill Rentals start at $55.95 • No other discounts or promotions apply • Must present coupon a time of reservation • Exp 4^ ^ mgmm ■ fe Bryan/College Station ^ 1100 Harvey Rd. Jfm I next to Post Oak Mall FORMAL WEAR 409-693-094; TLIK I’-A ItTY asnEVTER E3STOS! ROBERT U J? IT Tt O !N T & CLOSE 1 ONE NIGHT EVENT Reserved Seating available*—it’s parents weekend v’all! -i>.» i>ba,>» <.niy The TTarents Weekend Concert with special guest SNIDER AT: Marooned, Altjertnonfl, CaveiiderX Hurricane Jlarrv's, M8C Rox Office, or _. - by phono at 1-800-00G-SHOW (7400).: _ ‘Tickets subject to service c.harjre Xloksts wol<! on n flrwt enrns, ftrwr wervs Iwuitw Another Popular Prod uctioTT T' improvisational comedy Laugh with your parents. (Then tell them about your pregnant girlfriend and your $2000 credit card bill.) Parent’s Weekend Friday & Saturday April 18 & 19 10 p.m. Dixie Theatre (doors open at 8 p.m.) Tickets are $6 available in advance at Rother’s Bookstores and Marooned Records. ht tp: //ht tp. t am u. ed u: 8000/~fslip The Battalion Rachel Barry, Editor in Chief Tiffany Moore, Managing Editor Kristina Buffin, Sports Editor Wesley Poston, City Editor Stew Milne, Visual Arts Editor Alex Walters, Opinion Editor John LeBas, Aggielife Editor Chris Stevens, Web Editor l Jody Holley, Night News Editor Tim Moog, Photo Editor Helen Clancy, Night News Editor Brad Graeber, Cartoon Editor Staff Members City Desk - Assistant Editor: Melissa Nunnery; Reporters: Rebecca Torrellas, Brandon Hausenfluck, Laura Olive® 0 Roy, Graham Harvey, Jackie Vratil, Benjamin Cheng, Shikonya Cureton, Joey Schlueter, Kathleen Strickland,Msossi Alanis & Shea Wiggins Aggielife Desk - Assistant Editor: April Towery; Feature Writers: Aaron Meier, Shea Wiggins, Michael Schaub.DapW | Phillips, Brandon Truitt, Missy Price, & Karen Janes; Page Designers: Artie Alvarado & Daphne Phillips Sports Desk - Assistant Editor: Paul Mitchell; Writers: Jamie Burch, Jeremy Furtick, Matt Mitchell, Courtney Lyons.De® 1 * | Ramirez, Chris Ferrell, Lara Zuehlke & Nicole Smith; Page Designer: Eric Proctor Opinion Desk - Assistant Editor: James Francis; Columnists: Jon Apgar, David Boldt, Mason Jackson, Stephen Llano, Hill, Donny Ferguson, Kate Shropshire, Dave Johnston, Glenn Janik, General Franklin, Robby Ray, Courtney PliP 5 ' John Lemmons, Brandon Hausenfluck,Travis Chow & Jeremy Valdez Night News - Page Designers: Jennifer Bishop, Angie Rodgers, Joshua Miller, Lisa Wells & Michele Chancellor Copy Editors - Elisa Douglass, Missy Davila, Shea Wiggins, Gina Panzica & Matt Weber Visual Arts Desk - Assistant Photo Editor: Dave House; Photographers: Rony Angkriwan, Patrick James, Derek Deitwo, Robert McKay, Ryan Rogers & Amy Dunlap; Graphic Artists: Jennifer Maki, James Palmer & James Vineyard: On®* | ists: Michael Depot, Chad Mallam, David Hoffman, John Lemons, Ed Goodwin & Quatro Oakley Webmasters - Dusty Moer, Sara Candy, David Friesenhahn & Daniel Holwerda News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student | cations, a unit of the Department of Journalism. 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