MADISON, Wis. -- A new rule by the state Ag Department will increase the workload for scientists at a key lab in Madison for the testing of a deadly fish virus.

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Scientists at the state Veterinary Diagnostic Lab have already been testing more than 700 fish a week for VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, since the state Department of Natural Resources found the virus in fish in the Lake Winnebago system in May.

The virus causes fish to bleed to death but experts said it doesn't pose a threat to humans.

The rush to contain VHS to the Lake Winnebago system increased testing and the workload at the lab.

"It's been really busy, and I've had to help because the quantity has just increased," said Ann Hennings, a microbiologist at the state Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

The Ag Department is setting up an emergency rule that will require all state fish farmers to get all of their stock fish and bait tested for VHS, including DNR fish-stocked lakes.

With millions of stocking fish at 13 state hatcheries alone, the end result could be a soaring demand for the test at the state lab.

Officials said the testing staff has been doubled and they are hoping that is enough.

"We've also shifted some of the other people that do other work around to fill in the gaps that exist. But it has put a strain on what we do here," Hennings said.

"We expect that we'll get a lot more samples for VHS testing for surveillance in the aquaculture and also for movement of fish -- and that's going to be the big impact; there are more requirements for movement (of fish)," said Dr. Peter Vanderloo, associate director of the state Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

Experts said the VHS testing is not quick, easy or inexpensive. They said it takes 28 days to determine a result and now costs almost $450 per "lot" of 60 fish, though the lab is soon cutting the price.