$1.5M in Federal Funding Granted To Thwart VHS

Federal contingency funds of $1.5 million will be made available to control viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in the Great Lakes and surrounding states, U.S. Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow announced Thursday, September 27. The funding will focus on education, testing, and surveillance and compliance efforts to prevent the spread of VHS, a deadly fish disease. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will make the funds available.

"We don't have a minute to spare in fighting the spread of VHS," said Senator Levin. "This funding will help prevent its introduction into Lake Superior or more of our inland lakes, fish hatcheries, and aquaculture facilities. With more resources dedicated to keeping tabs on VHS, I am hopeful that we can better track this deadly disease and, hopefully, bring an end to its terrible impact on the Great Lakes."

VHS, an invasive species that causes death in many species of fish, has been reported in Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and St. Clair, and has recently spread to inland lakes in Michigan, New York, and Wisconsin. It is not harmful to humans.

The contingency funding provided by APHIS will support laboratory upgrades at the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories to improve testing, surveillance, and compliance support efforts in coordination with state and tribal agencies in the Great Lakes watershed, and an educational campaign to prevent the spread of VHS.