On the heels of recent positive tests of Chronic Wasting Disease in two deer in the Cranbrook area, comes word of three cases of whirling disease in fish in Kootenay Lake.
The samples taken from three trout in the south arm of the lake found damage to the brain stem and spinal cord.
Whirling Disease, caused by a microscopic parasite, is known to attack the salmon family, which includes rainbow and cutthroat.
Usually found in younger fish, it has a 90-percent mortality rate, but not considered a danger to pets or people.
Last year, fish with the disease were discovered in Kootenay and Yoho National Parks and Waterton Lakes in Alberta, but it’s not known if there’s a connection.
Like invasive mussels, the spread can most often be linked to boats and other equipment that’s not cleaned properly.
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