Fish virus threatens Minnesota's lakes

The Ebola virus for fish. Perhaps that's the best way to describe VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia. The lethal fish virus causes severe hemorrhaging and is capable of producing massive fish kills in some of Minnesota anglers' favorite game and eating fish including: Muskie, walleye, perch, sunfish, crappie, and small and largemouth bass.

The invasive disease (which is not native to the Great Lakes) was first diagnosed in Lakes St. Clair and Ontario in 2005. Since then, fish kills have occurred throughout the remaining Great Lakes, including Huron and Michigan, and inland lakes of New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. It has yet to hit Lake Superior and inland Minnesota lakes – but fish experts predict it is just a matter of time before the virus spreads through the land of 10,000 lakes.

• Read more about VHS
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