I want to give you all a heads up on the latest fish virus incident on the Mississippi River. In this case, the virus is Spring Viremia of carp. On the weekend of May 12, the US Fish and Wildlife Service's LaCrosse Fish Health Center received reports of a carp kill in Pool 8 of the Upper Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 7 in Dresbach, MN. Service biologists were not able to sample fish immediately because recovery operations were underway to find the bodies of a family involved in a boating accident. On May 24, Service biologists from the LaCrosse Fisheries Resource Office and the LaCrosse Fish Health Center were able to begin electroshocking to collect fish for health screening. By June 8, one of the pooled samples tested positive for the Spring Viremia of Carp virus (SVCV). Since this pathogen is an OIE reportable pathogen, samples were sent to the APHIS lab in Ames, IA for confirmation. On June 28, today, the LaCrosse Fish Health Center was informed by the APHIS lab that SVCV was confirmed.

This is the first case of this virus found in the Upper Mississippi River. Fish were collected from both MN and WI waters below Lock and Dam 7. APHIS has notified their state veterinarians in MN and WI that SVCV has been found in the River; we are not sure what APHIS's response will be, but will keep you informed as we learn more. If you need more information, please contact Ken Phillips at the LaCrosse Fish Health Center (608-783-8447).

Gerry Jackson
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service