The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has tentatively decided that the hundreds of bottlenose dolphins who have washed ashore this year are dying from and outbreak of morbillivirus.
In Delaware, Suzanne Thurman, executive director of the Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute said there have been 21 confirmed cases with six occurring since late August.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that Maryland has had 18 reported strandings.
As to why there is an outbreak officials say they are not sure.
While there is no vaccination for the virus for wildlife dolphins many that get the disease do not necessarily die.
