The good news is that with only three VHS fish disease test results (PDF) still pending from the monitoring DNR had planned to do for 2008, it appears the VHS virus hasn't spread beyond the Lake Michigan and Lake Winnebago systems, where it was first detected in May 2007.
The bad news is that Illinois announced July 2, 2008, that VHS had been detected in fish from its waters of Lake Michigan. That state has now enacted emergency regulations for boaters, anglers and wild bait harvesters (exit WIS DNR) similar to Wisconsin's.
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Director Mike Staggs says that Illinois' news is not surprising but is discouraging. "It continues to move the known locations of VHS that much closer to the Chicago ship canal and downstream drainages, which include the Mississippi River drainage. Although VHS was earlier detected in the Mississippi River drainage in Ohio, this would be much closer to Wisconsin inland waters."
Staggs says he is heartened, however, by Wisconsin's test results so far, and that boaters and anglers appear to be taking the necessary steps to prevent VHS and aquatic invasive species from spreading.
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