Serious fish disease spreads across South East Asia

A virus causing a new but serious disease of fish is spreading quickly across South East Asia. When the disease was first noticed in 1980 it was feared that the cause might be chemicals polluting the water. Now researchers from the Institute of Aquaculture, Stirling University, have identified a rod-shaped virus, previously unknown to science, as the organism causing epizootic ulcerated disease. The virus itself is not lethal but the ulcers it causes allow other organisms into the body and these prove fatal. As a result, millions of wild and farmed fish are dying on fish farms from Malaysia to Sri Lanka. Fish develop ulcers on the head and body and as the fish look so horrible, people have been reluctant to eat other fish from the pond or even use the water. However, researchers have established there is no danger to human beings or to other mammals. Recent research in Bangladesh has shown that the disease can be controlled to a certain extent by good management and clean water. Extension services are being effective in spreading this message. A disease research centre is being set up in Bangkok with help from Britain's ODA and Stirling University. Institute of Aquaculture - University of Stirling - Stirling FK9 4LA - UKA virus causing a new but serious disease of fish is spreading quickly across South East Asia. When the disease was first noticed in 1980 it was feared that the cause might be chemicals polluting the water. Now researchers from the Institute of..