The deadly fish virus KHV has been confirmed as the cause of death of thousands of carp in a USA lake.
According to the news channel 4wivb.com, at least 1000 wild carp weighing 20-30 lbs each, have died and washed up on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in Buffalo this week.
"There's been a massive carp die off, pretty much all over the lake...."
Fisheries Manager Paul McKeoun told the channel: "It started occurring about 3-4 days ago. There's been a massive carp die off, pretty much all over the lake."
The diagnosis was made by scientists at Cornell. KHV, or Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) as it is now called, has caused mass mortalities in carp around the world.
The site, which they've called "unbelievable" is expected to take at least two weeks to clean up and the authorities are looking for help from strong-stomached locals.
They've advised would-be helpers to wear gloves, pick up the corpses and bury them, but they've added that the virus can't be passed on to humans.
Fisheries Manager Paul McKeoun told the reporters: "You can tell from the stench off of the trucks where the fish are right now. You won't even be able to be outside. It's that bad."