The Department of Natural Resources today announced that it has confirmed the presence of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv) in samples of fish collected this spring in Baseline Lake in Washtenaw County and in Lake St. Clair. Baseline Lake becomes the second inland lake in Michigan in which VHSv is present.

"These are the first positive detections since 2007 in Michigan's waters," said Gary Whelan, fish production manager for the DNR's Fisheries Division. "The fish that tested positive were collected this spring during routine surveillance efforts, and were confirmed positive by multiple laboratories."

After VHSv was first detected in Michigan, the DNR began a surveillance program to collect fish from a range of waters for testing each year. This program has been funded in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS). Through June 2009, VHSv surveillance efforts have been conducted on 45 water bodies throughout Michigan.

Baseline Lake was sampled for the first time in 2009, and VHSv was found in brown bullheads that were collected during the survey. Baseline Lake is the second inland water body in Michigan in which fish have been found to be positive for VHSv -- the first was Budd Lake in Clare County in 2007. Other fish species sampled, including bluegills and rock bass, tested negative for the virus, Whelan said.

"There was no reported fish kill in Baseline Lake associated with these findings. These fish were simply collected as part of a routine survey program to look for VHSv around the state," said Steve Hewett, Lake Erie Basin coordinator for DNR's Fisheries Division. "The future threat of this virus in Baseline Lake is not known, but we will be more closely monitoring fish for signs of VHSv in both the lake and adjacent waters to determine any effects of the virus."

Anglers and boaters are reminded to visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing for specific ways to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

"Detection of VHSv in brown bullheads in Baseline Lake means that anglers and boaters must continue to be vigilant and work collaboratively with us to prevent the spread of this virus to other waters. It is our opinion that their efforts to date have helped significantly to reduce the rate of spread of this virus, and we thank them for their efforts to date," Hewett said.

The virus was also detected in smallmouth bass and muskellunge from Lake St. Clair, which has been positive for VHSv since at least 2003. The smallmouth bass were sampled during a fish kill in early June in Lake St. Clair, Whelan said.

"It is highly likely that VHSv played a part in the fish kill and allowed a bacterial infection to become a disease agent by lowering the immune system's ability to respond to the bacteria," explained Whelan.

The muskellunge were sampled in mid-May during their spawning period as part of the surveillance effort for Lake St. Clair. No mortality of muskellunge was observed this spring, and the last significant mortality of muskellunge that was attributed to VHSv was in 2006.

"This result is not surprising and means that muskellunge in Lake St. Clair are still carrying VHSv," Whelan noted.

Anglers are reminded to refrain from moving live fish between water bodies and to use and dispose of bait and baitfish properly. Boaters need to make sure their bilges and live wells are emptied prior to leaving a boat launch site and equipment must be cleaned and disinfected after use. The DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing also contains information for anglers and boaters on rules that have been in place to limit the spread of VHSv.