A better look and understanding of VHS.

[Walleye Express]

Additional Info on the desease.

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv)

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus is a serious pathogen of fresh and saltwater fish that is an emerging disease in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada.

Skin hemorrhages (bleeding) on a fish infected with Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv)

© Dr Jim Winton (USGS, Seattle WA), Dr Mohamed Faisal (MSU, Lansing MI) and Dr Paul Bowser (Cornell, Ithaca NY)

VHS virus is a rhabdovirus (rod shaped virus) that affects fish of all sizes and ages. It does not pose any threat to human health. VHS causes hemorrhaging of skin, muscle, and internal organs, and death follows. Some fish infected with VHS will develop antibodies to the virus and will survive. However, after a period of time the fish may start shedding virus again and spread the disease to other fish.

In Wisconsin's Great Lakes

Based on the diagnosis of VHS virus in Chinook, walleye, and lake whitefish from Lake Huron in 2006, fisheries biologists believe the virus is probably already in Lake Michigan, and ballast discharged from ships may have moved the virus to port cities on Lake Superior.

In Fall 2006, the DNR, with the help of the US Fish and Wildlife Service La Crosse Fish Health Center and the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, tested spawning Chinook and coho salmon, brown trout, lake whitefish, bloater chubs, and yellow perch from Lake Michigan for VHS virus. Spawning lake trout, gobies, yellow perch, and emerald shiners from Lake Superior were also tested. VHS virus was not detected in any species.

What are the clinical signs of VHS?

The clinical signs of VHS may include hemorrhaging (bleeding), unusual behavior, anemia, bulging eyes, bloated abdomens, and the rapid onset of death; however, these symptoms could apply to many different fish diseases. VHS must be confirmed by lab tests. Additionally, some infected fish may not show any signs and transporting these fish to new locations could spread the disease to new waters.

Thumbnails link to larger images.

The clinical signs of VHS include hemorrhaging in the muscle tissue and internal organs, pale organs, and bulging eyes.

© Dr Jim Winton (USGS, Seattle WA), Dr Mohamed Faisal (MSU, Lansing MI) and Dr Paul Bowser (Cornell, Ithaca NY)

How is VHS spread?

VHS virus is shed in the urine and reproductive fluids of fish into the water and the virus can survive in water for at least 14 days. Virus particles in the water infect the gills of the fish and within 2 days, the infected fish will start shedding the virus. Thus, water discharged from live wells, bilges and bait buckets can spread the virus from infected waters. Moving live, infected fish from one location to another will also spread the virus. Fish can also become infected by eating an infected fish. Other ways that the virus may be spread include natural fish movements, recreational boating/angling, birds, ballast water discharge, and research activities.

Emergency Rule - Controlling the spread of VHS

The Natural Resources Board on April 4, 2007, adopted an amended emergency Administrative rule [PDF 240KB] that will aid the Department in controlling the spread of VHS to inland waters. This emergency rule goes into effect on Sunday, April 8, 2007.

What does the rule mean for anglers?

Leeches, worms, and insects are OK. The use of leaches, worms, and insects for bait is not affected by the new rules. In these rules the term bait means all or part of any frog, crayfish, fish, or fish egg.

Be careful with live bait. If you want to use live bait (crayfish, frogs, fish, or fish egg), the bait must be a) purchased from a licensed bait dealer, captured legally in the water to be fished, or c) captured in an inland lake or stream and retained for use in another inland lake or stream.

Be careful with dead bait. If you want to use dead bait (all or part of any fish, fish egg, crayfish, or frog), the bait must be a) used on Lake Michigan (including Green Bay and tributaries up to the first dam), used on the lake or stream where it was captured, or c) preserved by means other than refrigeration or freezing.

Kill your fish after fishing the Great Lakes or Mississippi River. You may not transport live fish or fish eggs (including both bait and game fish) away from waters of the Great Lakes or Mississippi River drainages (including tributaries up to the first dam), except under certain unusual circumstances (contact DNR office for information).

Drain your boat and live well. After fishing or boating on the waters of the Great Lakes or Mississippi River (including tributaries up to the first dam), you must immediately drain all water from the boat and boat trailer, including any bilge, ballast tank, bait bucket, and live well.

Additional Information about Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) [exit DNR]

University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute [exit DNR]

Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia in New York [exit DNR]

VHS Briefing Paper [exit DNR] - Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources

VHS Fact Sheet [PDF 994KB]

Contact Information

For specific information on the VHS virus, please contact:

Sue Marcquenski

Fish Health Specialist

(608) 266-2871