A deadly bee virus is discovered in Wisconsin.

The first-documented case of Israeli acute paralysis virus was discovered in bees in an apiary in New Richmond this month.

IAPV is a killing virus that is “strongly correlated” with Colony Collapse Disorder, a finding made in a recent entomology article from Pennsylvania State University. CCD is a mysterious malady, which is decimating bee colonies throughout the US.

Elizabeth Meils, state apiarist, said this finding in St. Croix County is the first-known case of IAPV in Wisconsin. She said Wisconsin is participating in a nation-wide, fact-finding study with Pennsylvania State University on the extent and cause of IAPV.

“The survey will probably take a couple of weeks,” Meils said. A state inspector is now collecting “samples of bees and wax” to send to Pennsylvania for testing on the virus. The state’s results will be available to the public upon completion.

State officials and other researchers, at the University of Minnesota who participated in the discovery of IAPV in Wisconsin, stress that the finding of the lethal virus does not mean CCD exists here.

“Right,” said Gary Reuter, a scientist at the University of Minnesota’s department of entomology. “Most of the (CCD) symptoms are there,” in the infected hives from New Richmond, he said. But IAPV is only “a marker” in the broader search for the cause of CCD.

At this stage, researchers are not sure if IAPV was the only cause of the destruction of the hives owned by long-time beekeeper Harlan Vehrs, in northwest Wisconsin. But they are certain the virus was a contributing factor.

Officials are not certain how the virus migrated into the state. And researchers are not certain where in the world it originated. It was first discovered in Israel in 2004. Despite uncertainties, Reuter said they will keep a sharp eye out in the spring for other occurrences of IAPV in Wisconsin.

“If it happens in the spring then hopefully the beekeepers will be more alert and researchers will know what to get samples of and hopefully we get more data.”

To report or obtain more information on IAPV or CCD, call the Wisconsin state apiarist at: 608-224-4572.