By Alabama Public Radio
Dauphin Island, AL – Conservation officials expect more catfish to wash up along Alabama beaches today. Thousands of dead catfish littered beaches at Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan yesterday. Tissue samples have been sent to the state Department of Environmental Management, and test results should come back in about a week. Environmental scientists suspect a virus may be responsible. A virus killed tens of thousands of catfish in May 1996. Health officials say if it is a virus, it probably would not affect humans. But, health workers say fishermen should avoid capturing or eating the dead fish.