02-10-2004, 11:48 PM
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]LAKELAND, FL—Officials say largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is the likely killer of 50 fish in Lake Hollingsworth near Lakeland, Florida. If LMBV is confirmed as the cause, it would be the state's first known incidence the virus, which has killed thousands of bass nationwide. [/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]State biologists say they need to take more samples from effected fish before the cause can be identified. In the meantime, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking residents to capture any struggling fish they might find and contact officials for testing.[/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]Biologists are also urging anglers to take simple precautions to prevent spreading the disease. Anglers should not transport any species of fish from lake to lake.[/size][/#000000][/font]
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[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]State biologists say they need to take more samples from effected fish before the cause can be identified. In the meantime, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking residents to capture any struggling fish they might find and contact officials for testing.[/size][/#000000][/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][#000000][size 2]Biologists are also urging anglers to take simple precautions to prevent spreading the disease. Anglers should not transport any species of fish from lake to lake.[/size][/#000000][/font]
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