What is the long-term outlook for VHS in the Great Lakes and state fish population?
It’s hard to say right now because the fish virus is new to the Great Lakes region, and unlike strains in other parts of the world, seems to be affecting a broader range of fish. Fish that survive the infection will develop antibodies to the virus. Antibodies will protect the fish against new VHS virus infections for some time. However, the concentration of antibodies in the fish will drop over time and the fish may start shedding the virus again, creating a cycle of fish kills that occur on a regular basis. On the other hand, experiences from other Great Lakes indicate that fisheries can and have bounced back.
