Herpes Outbreaks Kills Thousands Of Fish In This Minnesota Lake

Herpes in fish is a thing?  Did somebody make a trip to Las Vegas?  The Minnesota DNR says at least a couple thousand fish are dead in Fountain Lake near Albert Lea, Minnesota due to a Herpes outbreak.  It's unclear of the exact date when this event happened but it's believed to have occurred in mid-July.

Most of the fish that are dead are common carp.  Also, a handful of largemouth bass, bullheads, and catfish were among the casualties.  The deaths are being blamed on the koi herpes virus (KHV), which is a common carp-specific virus that doesn't impact humans or other fish species typically.

It's unclear how the common carp in Fountain Lake contracted the virus.  However, the Minnesota DNR believes the herpes virus could have been transferred to the carp in by someone releasing a goldfish or koi into the lake or neighboring connecting waterway.

Common carp are considered a rough fish species (non-desirable fish).  Could this event possibly be a way of eradicating this non-desirable species of fish that is said to muddy waters and outcompete native fish?

This isn't the first time something like this has happened in Minnesota lakes.  The koi herpes virus also killed fish as early as 2009 in southern Minnesota lakes.  The DNR says this virus poses no threat to humans.

Has this herpes outbreak ever affected fish in a North Dakota lake?  Possibly, back in 2013, in the Jamestown Dam, where there was a massive carp dieoff according to an article on Outdoor Hub.  There have likely been other events that have gone unreported.