The deadly Koi Herpes Virus is to become a notifiable disease and it will soon be a legal responsibility to inform the authorities of a suspected outbreak.
Ben Bradshaw MP, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Junior Environment Minister, yesterday announced in Parliament that KHV is to be made a notifiable disease in the UK, bringing the disease in line with other serious fish diseases including Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC) and Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS).
A notifiable disease is a disease named in section 88 of the Animal Health Act 1981 or an Order made under that Act. Section 15(1) of the Act says that:
"any person having in their possession or under their charge an animal affected or suspected of having one of these diseases must, with all practicable speed, notify that fact to a police constable."
Bradshaw described the situation with Koi Herpes Virus as "very serious" and Defra believes that making the disease notifiable, as other serious animal diseases such as BSE, foot-and-mouth and rabies are, will make it easier for scientists to monitor and control the virus, and prevent it spreading to wild fish stocks.
Since the disease is not yet notifiable, there is no legal obligation for fish suppliers, farmers or fishkeepers to inform the authorities if their fish become infected. Defra is also unable to prevent diseased fish being moved to other areas for fish infected by diseases that are not notifiable.
The current set up, many believe, has led to a false picture of how common KHV really is. While many suspected KHV cases are often attributed to severe bacterial infections, other cases likely to be caused by the virus may have gone unannounced because fish dealers fear that confirmation of the disease on their premises will have a devastating effect upon their business.
Defra has reported only 16 confirmed cases of KHV in the UK's stillwater fisheries, however, in all likelihood, the disease is much more common than the figures suggest.
Prior to the notifiable disease status, Defra has withheld the details of businesses in which KHV has been confirmed to prevent others being deterred from contacting the authorities. However, this could potentially change when the disease becomes notifiable as Defra typically confirms the address of the infected premises.
Ben Bradshaw MP, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Junior Environment Minister, yesterday announced in Parliament that KHV is to be made a notifiable disease in the UK, bringing the disease in line with other serious fish diseases including Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC) and Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS).
A notifiable disease is a disease named in section 88 of the Animal Health Act 1981 or an Order made under that Act. Section 15(1) of the Act says that:
"any person having in their possession or under their charge an animal affected or suspected of having one of these diseases must, with all practicable speed, notify that fact to a police constable."
Bradshaw described the situation with Koi Herpes Virus as "very serious" and Defra believes that making the disease notifiable, as other serious animal diseases such as BSE, foot-and-mouth and rabies are, will make it easier for scientists to monitor and control the virus, and prevent it spreading to wild fish stocks.
Since the disease is not yet notifiable, there is no legal obligation for fish suppliers, farmers or fishkeepers to inform the authorities if their fish become infected. Defra is also unable to prevent diseased fish being moved to other areas for fish infected by diseases that are not notifiable.
The current set up, many believe, has led to a false picture of how common KHV really is. While many suspected KHV cases are often attributed to severe bacterial infections, other cases likely to be caused by the virus may have gone unannounced because fish dealers fear that confirmation of the disease on their premises will have a devastating effect upon their business.
Defra has reported only 16 confirmed cases of KHV in the UK's stillwater fisheries, however, in all likelihood, the disease is much more common than the figures suggest.
Prior to the notifiable disease status, Defra has withheld the details of businesses in which KHV has been confirmed to prevent others being deterred from contacting the authorities. However, this could potentially change when the disease becomes notifiable as Defra typically confirms the address of the infected premises.
