Fish Virus Becoming A Serious Concern
A deadly fish virus has New York officials very concerned. The virus named “viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or better known as VHS is infecting and killing game fish in Finger Lakes area of NY.
The virus was introduced to the area by, non native live baits. Which has authorities taking steep measures and imposing strict rules on the use and sale of any live bait in the area. One of the measures being taken is requiring any angler fishing with live bait to have a receipt for the purchase of the bait he or she is fishing with. Failure to provide a proof of sales slip will result in fines upward of $250.
I addition bait shop owners and now required to test all of their live minnows and saw bellies for the virus before selling them.
Dr. Paul Browser of Cornell University stated his concerns about the spreading virus, saying “This virus has the capability of effecting a wide variety of fish.” “It can not be treated with antibiotics because of the nature of the virus, about the only thing we can do is to contain it to limit the viruses spread.”
Authorities and researchers want to stress that the virus does not effect humans!
