Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) officials announced Thursday that six of the 60 samples taken last fall from brown trout in Huntington Creek, a popular fishery running along State Road 31 north of Huntington, tested positive for the whirling disease parasite.

Huntington Creek also carries a Blue Ribbon designation from the state for being a fishery that sustains a viable fish population, with a capacity for natural reproduction, and is accessible to the public. Wildlife officials say there is no danger to human health from eating whirling disease-infected fish.

The discovery of whirling disease on Huntington Creek was not a surprise. Officials at the DWR's Fisheries Experiment Station in Logan last year found fish infected with whirling disease in the tributaries to Huntington Creek in Scad Valley. Water from Scad Valley feeds the left fork of Huntington Creek, which dumps into main Huntington Creek.

The creek carries a self-sustaining population of mostly wild brown trout and some cutthroat.

"It is hard to predict at this point in time, but I don't think we are going to see any major impact," said Paul Birdsey, aquatic director for the DWR's southeastern region out of Price. "Brown trout evolved with whirling disease and it is not likely we will see a significant impact in Huntington Creek. The main thing is that anglers who use Huntington Creek recognize that it exists here and that they need to clean their gear very thoroughly to help prevent spreading whirling disease."

Utah fisheries carrying whirling disease have shown little ill effect from the parasite on wild populations, but the trout malady has cost millions of dollars at three state hatcheries, which tested positive and had to be shut down for lengthy periods for decontamination. Thousands of pounds of trout destined for the end of fishing hooks had to be destroyed, reducing the overall number of fish the wildlife agency has been able to plant.

Whirling disease was first discovered in 1991 and was linked to a private fish farm managed by former Gov. Michael Leavitt and his family.

Anglers are believed to be the main route of spreading whirling disease

"It is the same scenario we are seeing elsewhere. Many of the places with whirling disease are close to the road and get a lot of angler traffic," said Chris Wilson, director of the Fisheries Experiment Station.

brettp@sltrib.com