Are infected fish safe to handle and eat?
Yes. LMBV is not known to infect any warm-blooded animals, including humans. But common sense should prevail at all times: Thoroughly cook fish that you intend to eat. Also, fish that are dead or dying should not be used for human food, regardless of the cause of the illness. 9. What can and is being done. As with many fish viruses, little is known about LMBV. But because of the popularity of largemouth bass, state and federal agencies, universities, and private-interest groups are working hard to learn more about the virus and its impact on the resource. Universities involved with LMBV include Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Auburn, California-Davis, University of Illinois, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M. During 2001, the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, also known as Wallop-Breaux, provided more than $400,000 for LMBV research. 10. What the experts think. Because so little is known about LMBV, scientists have few conclusions to offer regarding the virus. T
