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Karen Eggert (301) 734-7280 USDA REVISES ITS FEDERAL ORDER REGARDING THE MOVEMENT OF LIVE FISH SUSCEPTIBLE TO VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA APHIS issued the initial action in response to detections of VHS for the first time in fresh-water fish in several of the Great Lakes and related tributaries. VHS is responsible for several large-scale die-offs of wild fish in the Great Lakes region. The original Federal Order was issued in response to the rapid spread of VHS in the Great Lakes region and the potential impact of the disease on a growing number of fish species, including species of fish raised commercially in the United States. The intent of the Federal Order is to prevent the introduction of VHS into aquaculture facilities by controlling the movement of live fish species from the Great Lakes region at risk of harboring the VHS virus while APHIS gathers more information on the disease and puts in place a federal regulatory program that allows for the interstate movement of fish susceptible to VHS via testing and certification. The revised Federal Order will remain in effect until the interim rule is published. The modified and the original emergency orders putting these protections into place can be found on our Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/aquaculture/. # Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom. Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send an e-mail message to lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov and leave the subject blank. In the message, type subscribe press_releases.
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