MASS EXTERMINATION: California kills 3.2 MILLION trout to halt bacteria outbreak
The 3.2 million fish that have been infected with Lactococcus bacteria are all being euthanized to halt the outbreak. They were farmed to stock waterways for recreational fishing.
CBS SACRAMENTO: California will kill 3.2 million trout to stop the outbreak of a bacterial infection that’s threatening hatcheries, wildlife officials said… The trout, which are used to stock waterways for recreational fishing, are in two hatcheries in the Owens Valley in the eastern Sierra and one hatchery in the Mojave Desert city of Victorville, northeast of Los Angeles…
Fish at the hatcheries have been infected with Lactococcus garvieae, which is similar to streptococcus, wildlife officials said… The fish to be killed are at Mojave River Hatchery, Black Rock Hatchery and Fish Springs Hatchery. All three facilities had been under quarantine for more than a month. Testing hasn’t found any bacteria at Hot Creek Hatchery in the eastern Sierra, authorities said…
Outbreaks have been reported in fresh and saltwater fish farms and shellfish hatcheries but also cattle and poultry farms around the world, according to a statement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, the bacterium had never been detected in fish in California before it was found at the Victorville facility in April. About 60,000 fish have since died…
Other California hatcheries still have tens of millions of trout but the fish kills will “have a significant impact for a long period of time”… Transmitting the bacteria from fish or animals to humans is “rare and unlikely” but there have been a few cases of people with weakened immune systems getting it from infected raw fish and unpasteurized milk products, the statement said. SOURCE…
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