Why is the Environment Agency concerned about KHV?
Due to the pathogenicity of the virus and difficulties with detection the Environment Agency is very concerned about the potential impact of KHV to carp fisheries within England and Wales. The virus has already been detected from 10 carp fisheries following mortality investigations. There are no treatments for KHV, or licensed vaccines to prevent potential infections. As KHV is currently not a notifiable disease, fish infected with the virus are not restricted from importation into the UK. As such, without further controls it is possible that KHV could be spread to fisheries with fish legally imported. Due to this the Environment Agency is working with CEFAS on the best methods of screening and is adapting our controls on the movement of fish into the wild. What is the Environment Agency doing about KHV? In order to protect fisheries and prevent dissemination of the virus the Environment Agency has classed KHV as a novel pathogen. This restricts introductions of fish to fisheries from
