MILWAUKEE - Scientists are keeping a close eye on every fish brought in by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's research boat. Val Klump, senior scientist at UWM's Great Lakes WATER Institute, worries about what will happen when they find viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, in Lake Michigan. It's a deadly blood disease that infects fish. "The Friday night fish fry, the yellow perch, it's going to affect that," Klump told TODAY'S TMJ4 reporter Tom Murray. Scientists say it is like an Ebola for fish because of its similar characteristics to the lethal African virus. It's already wiping out entire populations of fish in the St. Lawrence River, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron. It is ready to invade Lake Michigan. "It's not a matter of if, it's when," said Klump The fast-spreading virus could devastate many species of Lake Michigan fish that people like to catch and eat. The virus infects favorites like bluegill, walleye and northern pike. There's fear that trout or even farm-raised salmon could be next. "One of the unfortunate realities about this is that you don't find out about this stuff until it is a problem," said Dan Ryan, who buys and sells fish for a Milwaukee-area restaurant distributor. People cannot contract VHS, but they can spread it. Fishermen have to be diligent about washing off their gear and boats. The DNR advises fisherman to never move live fish from one lake to another lake.