On Dec. 3, 1997, an official of MD's Dept. of Health and Mental
Hygiene reported that 13 of 15 individuals identified as suffering
from the more severe learning and memory problems after exposure
to possible Pfiesteria-complex toxins appear to have completely
recovered; The two remaining individuals were reported to be "nearly
normal."
On Dec. 17, 1997, a coalition of 10 environmental groups presented
recommendations to MD Governor Parris Glendening, including taxing
chicken producers at 1 cent per pound to fund pollution control
measures in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, such as transporting
chicken manure out of the watershed.
On Dec. 18, 1997, VA Governor announced that he would propose
$4.2 million in his state budget for the VA Institute of Marine
Science to study Pfiesteria and related organisms linked to fish
kills; In mid-December 1997, officials of the VA Marine Resources
Commission announced that a VA task force developing a comprehensive
plan for Pfiesteria research and monitoring should complete their
work by late December 1997.
On Dec. 19, 1997, a VA medical team studying possible human health
effects of exposure to toxins released by Pfiesteria or related
organisms reported that they had been unable to establish a connection
between symptoms reported by two individuals and contact with
dinoflagellate toxins along the Pocomoke River.
On Jan. 5, 1998, MD legislators held a hearing in Salisbury, MD,
to hear reports from various cabinet secretaries on progress in
dealing with Pfiesteria and to discuss options to be considered
by the General Assembly; more than 700 attended this hearing.
[Dow Jones News, Assoc Press, Reuters]