The great lakes!?

Question

i have heard from my friend that he read an article about the fish in the great lakes and how they are infected with a virus causing mass killings of these fish. How does this virus work and how does it spread. How was the virus introduced into the lakes?

Answer 1

The virus is VHS.  (viral hemorrhagic septicemia)

Like most invasive species in the great lakes, ship ballast water is the likely cause.    It causes fatal bleeding and is spread through contact with infected fluids.  It does not affect humans.

See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17954380/

and

http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/...