Where has Largemouth Bass Virus been found?

Since 1995, LMBV has been found in 15 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Other states, including Maryland and Virginia, have monitored for the virus, but did not find it. Others plan to do so in 2001. Between March and November 2000, researchers examined 3,476 largemouth bass and related sunfish species in nine southeastern states, according to the federal Warm Springs Fish Health Center. Of those, 464, or 13 percent, tested positive for LMBV.

Fish kills attributable to LMBV have been confirmed in nearly 20 locations. During 2000, fish died in Arkansas' Monticello, as well as Louisiana's False River and Oklahoma's Grand, Tenkiller, Hudson and Fort Gibson lakes. Kills also have occurred at Santee-Cooper, S.C. (1995); W.F. George Reservoir (also known as Lake Eufaula), Ala. and Ga. (1998); Greenwood Reservoir, S.C. (1998); Sardis Reservoir, Miss. (1998); Sam Rayburn, Texas (1998); Lake Fork and Lake Conroe, Texas (1999); Toledo Bend, Texas and La. (1999); Table Rock Lake, Mo. and Ark. (1999); Lake Ferguson and Tunica Cutoff, Miss. (1999); and Atchafalaya Basin, La. (1999)