Government confirms outbreak of deadly Koi herpesvirus in Milton Keynes
Stringent disease controls are in place after an outbreak of the serious Koi herpesvirus was confirmed in MK by the government this week.
The deadly viral disease, known as KHV, can affect all varieties of common and ornamental carp and can result in large scale fish deaths.
It has been found at the Growing Facility at Tree Farm on Salford Road in Aspley Guise.
The government’s Fish Health Inspectorate confirmed the outbreak on Monday (September 14) and published a list of the enforcement actions put in place to prevent it from spreading.
These involve movement controls on susceptible species in the affected area, enhanced biosecurity, culling of fish, and cleaning and disinfecting of the premises.
Once statutory controls are in place the site operators must write to the FHI to get permission to move live fish into, out of, or within the designated area, and to make material changes to the site or site activities. This also applies to fish eggs and gamet.
And there are even restirctions on moving any equipment liable to transmit disease into, out of or within the confirmed area, as well as moving by any means of transport liable to spread the virus..
KHV is a serious viral disease of fish and is a listed notifiable disease in the United Kingdom.. Fish with KHV disease may show necrotic (white or brown) patches on the gills, rough patches on the skin and sunken eyes.
Outbreaks of the disease have been subject to statutory controls in the UK since 2007 and the UK maintains a surveillance programme for cases of it.
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