10-10-2005, 04:09 PM
WARREN, PA—A disease outbreak has prompted the removal of more than 700,000 trout from Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Fish Hatchery, and officials say many of the fish might need to be destroyed.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials announced last week that lake trout and brook trout at the hatchery had tested positive for the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, which causes hemorrhaging of internal organs. The infection is highly contagious in fish and can cause up to 90 percent mortality in young fish. There's no known cure or treatment, but the virus doesn't affect humans.
The hatchery is home to 720,000 juvenile lake, brook and rainbow trout and 2,500 lake trout broodstock. The fish are stocked in lakes Erie and Ontario and around the Allegheny National Forest. Hatchery staff are working to remove the fish and disinfect the facility.
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials announced last week that lake trout and brook trout at the hatchery had tested positive for the infectious pancreatic necrosis virus, which causes hemorrhaging of internal organs. The infection is highly contagious in fish and can cause up to 90 percent mortality in young fish. There's no known cure or treatment, but the virus doesn't affect humans.
The hatchery is home to 720,000 juvenile lake, brook and rainbow trout and 2,500 lake trout broodstock. The fish are stocked in lakes Erie and Ontario and around the Allegheny National Forest. Hatchery staff are working to remove the fish and disinfect the facility.
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