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Virus Absolved in Carp Die-Off

Manito, IL – Fishery biologists believe stress and not a virus killed Asian Carp on the Illinois River earlier this summer. Larry Willis of the Jake Wolf fish hatchery near Manito says the die-off did not progress as a virus infection would be expected to. When the kill first occurred, some observers believed the spring viremia virus might have been responsible. It's fatal to the carp, but can also affect gamefish species. Willis believes stress caused by overpopulation, the spawning season, or other reasons caused the fish kill. He says biologists are still testing for bacterial infections that might have been responsible. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has worked with the state to help determine the reason for the kill. Estimates are that 1,000 fish per mile between Havana and Starved Rock died early this summer.