Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is a fatal disease that causes anemia and hemorrhaging in freshwater fish species. This deadly virus was first discovered in the Northeast in 2005, but a recent report validates the rapid spread of VHSV as it has now been found in Lake Superior–thought to be the last of the Great [...]
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is a fatal disease that causes anemia and hemorrhaging in freshwater fish species. This deadly virus was first discovered in the Northeast in 2005, but a recent report validates the rapid spread of VHSV as it has now been found in Lake Superior–thought to be the last of the Great Lakes to harbor the disease.
Healthy Walleye Top v. Walleye infected with VHSV
In the study, 874 fish from seven sites were tested. Of those sites, fish from Skanee, Michigan and Superior Bay and St. Louis Bay of Wisconsin tested positive for VHSV, though additional testing is still underway for other locales. At this time the virus has been found to infect 28 freshwater species and is seen as a significant threat to the fishing industry in the area.
To help prevent the spread, in ’08 the U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibited the transport of these 28 species within the greatlakes. Although this preventative measure did little to slow the spread of the virus, scientists note that there were no signficant fish mortalities observed in 2008 and 2009. Scientists have said the disease poses no direct threat to humans, but it is unknown if it can effect marine fishes. Yikes.
[physorg]
