Federal wildlife officials have confirmed an exotic fish virus is active in the upper Mississippi River.

ONALASKA, Wis. (AP)

June 29, 2007

Test results on carp taken from the Mississippi between Onalaska and Genoa in May revealed the spring viremia of carp virus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said Friday.

The virus attacks the carp family, including baitfish such as shiners. It can cause bleeding, protruding eyes and intestines, and darkening skin, said Corey Puzach, a Fish and Wildlife biologist.

It can be fatal in fish, but poses no threat to humans.

The virus is common in Europe and Asia, Puzach said. It turned up in the United States in 2002 on a koi farm in North Carolina and later that same year in Cedar Lake in northwestern Wisconsin, he said.

The virus likely got into the U.S. through imported fish, said Steve Hewett, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' fisheries policy section chief.

The DNR temporarily banned carp fishing on Cedar Lake and prohibited taking live bait from the lake in response, but Hewett said the virus probably spread into the Mississippi. Cedar Lake connects to both the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. The DNR announced in December 2002 that tests of fish taken from the rivers revealed antibodies for the virus, suggesting the fish had come into contact with the virus.

http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2007/06/29/ap-state-wi/d8q2pri00.txt

The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday its discovered another fish virus in the Mississippi River near La Crosse.

This virus is called Spring Viremia of Carp and affects baitfish and carps.
Biologists found the virus after investigating a large carp kill in may in the river between Onalaska and Genoa. This is the first time the virus has been discovered in the Upper Mississippi River.

The virus poses no health risk to humans.
http://www.weau.com/news/headlines/8253007.html

Another fish virus found in Mississippi

Associated Press - June 29, 2007 2:45 PM ET

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - As if Wisconsin anglers don't have enough to worry about with the bleeding fish virus.

Federal wildlife officials announced today they've discovered another fish virus - this one in the upper Mississippi River near La Crosse.

This one is called spring viremia of carp. It affects carp and maybe baitfish too. The virus poses no health risk to humans.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service says its biologists found the virus after investigating a large carp kill in May in the portion of river between Onalaska and Genoa.

US Fish and Wildlife says it's the first time the virus has been discovered in the upper Mississippi River.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources already is monitoring waters around the state for VHS, which causes fish to bleed to death. Some DNR experts fear that virus could impact the state's treasured game fish.
http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6729297