Why do fish biologists consider VHS a serious threat to Wisconsin fish?
Fish biologists consider the virus a serious threat to Wisconsin fish for several resons: it can spread easily between fish of all ages, it affects a broad range of our native game fish, panfish and bait fish, as well as “rough” fish, and it often kills fish. The strain that has shown up in the Great Lakes is new and fish here have had no exposure to the virus, meaning their immune systems have no defense and are “highly susceptible.” This is the first time a virus has affected so many different fish species from so many fish families in the Great Lakes.
