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What Killed all the Carp in Lake Mohave? Herpes.

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Remember right before Labor Day weekend, officials at Lake Mohave were puzzled at why hundreds of dead carp were all of the sudden washing up on shore dead? Scientists have finally figured out the probable cause: Koi Herpes Virus (KHV). Good thing it poses no threats to human health. To fish, however, it's a different story, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department via the Lake Mead National Recreation Area: "The virus, which can impact carp as water temperatures warm, affects gill function and can lead to suffocation and secondary infections. While there were bacterial issues, lab tests show KHV as the primary cause of the die-off." Dead fish continue to line the around 200 miles of beachfront on both Nevada and Arizona sides and warn fishers to avoid carp and for recreation users to be patient in finding a beach area. Otherwise, the lake water, although lower than usual, is deemed to be safe.

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