A SECOND outbreak of a dangerous virus has been found in fish in the region after tests.

Last month viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) was detected on a fish farm in the York region.

It led to thousands of fish been killed at an unidentified trout farm in an attempt to stop the virus' spread.

But now a second strand has been detected in freshwater fish downstream from the infected farm.

Defra officials have found VHS in a grayling sample and will carry out further tests locally.

The virus affects mainly rainbow trout particularly in fish farms due to the closeness of the fish.

And after the recent outbreak 33 fish farms in the county were put in quarantine to prevent it spreading.

Although Defra tests have not so far revealed any other infected farms.

The disease, which cannot be passed to humans, is highly infectious in fish spreading through contact and faeces.

Tests for VHS will continue in waters above and below the infected farm as a wild fish outbreak could infect trout farms.

The disease is common in Denmark and France but the only other British outbreak was in 1994 on the Scottish island of Gigha.