Anyone ever hear of fish ebola??!!

[Eddie Munster]

Not sure if this is the correct spot to post this but found this article very disturbing. Fish of many species in Great Lakes dying off due to it. Didn't see it posted anywhere else.

"When thousands of bloody, hemorrhaging fish recently turned up on the Lake Michigan shore south of Milwaukee, it confirmed the worst fears of scientists worried that an Ebola-like virus stalking Great Lakes fish would strike closer to Chicago.

The dead fish were round gobies, a small invasive species that many feel is better off dead. But unlike many other diseases that tend to hit one or two types of fish, this viral strain has led to large fish kills involving more than 30 species, including valuable sport fish such as salmon, trout, walleye, muskie, bass and perch."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-fish-virus_19jun19%2C0%2C2787155.story

[Lane]

Eddie, The VHS virus is indeed serious. My prediction is that it will

indeed reach the Mississippi River system. As scientists we have kept

up with the virus and it's spread since 2005. The deadly VHSV is the

reason why we introduced a new formula that includes two disinfectants known to kill viral particles in hauling containers such as

bait buckets, livewells and hauling tanks.

The collapse of the ecosystem in the Great Lakes due to environmental

pollution and invasive species make that body of water prime for various pathogens. Many species of fish have found to have lowered

immune responses that are linked to changes in the ecosystem.

While I don't think we can STOP the spread or even further mutations

of the virus, but hopefully we can slow down the spread. This will give biologists and fisheries managers time to strengthen the forage base

and ecosystem in public waters. Healthy fish with good immune systems can develop antibodies against the virus faster.

Anglers need to do their part by making sure that boats and equipment

are disinfected, clean and dry after EACH USE.

You are right, the VHSV in fish can be likened to the Ebola Virus in humans.

[Eddie Munster]

Good luck man. Seems like this should be front page news or we should be seeing this on Foxnews or CNN.  

[crazy4bass1]

this cant be transmitted to humans from the fish can it?

[Lane]

crazy4bass1, No it can't be transmitted to humans, ONLY FISH. I suspect it will make BIG national news if and when it is found in commercial hatcheries down south. It could devastate the commercial hybid striper hatcheries, etc. There has been an ongoing panic within the USDA and other federal agencies about the arrival of this multispecies strain of VHS. It has already forced many state hatcheries

up north to cease the stockings of several fish.

[no.4shot]

Due to VHS and other virus' in michigan if you buy minnows to fish with you have to have a receipt with you at all times.  They don't want people catching minnows in this lake then going and using them at another lake.