Press release

Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in 2021

The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) have found Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in fish at the following sites in England and Wales

From:
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Published
7 May 2021
Last updated
28 July 2022 — See all updates
Carp showing clinical signs of KHVD - gill necrosis

KHV is a serious viral disease of fish and is a listed disease in the United Kingdom. It affects all varieties of common and ornamental carp species (Cyprinus carpio) and can result in large scale mortalities. Fish with KHV disease may show the following signs, especially when water temperatures are between 16 to 28 °C:

  • necrotic (white or brown) patches on the gills
  • rough patches on the skin and sloughing mucous
  • sunken eyes

You must contact the FHI if you suspect an outbreak of KHV. This includes fish with the above signs, or deaths of carp or carp hybrids.

There is no risk to public health.

Sites with KHV disease must undergo a formal monitoring programme for the duration of the calendar year immediately following the outbreak. The FHI visit these sites to look for evidence of disease and to inspect compliance with the conditions of the statutory controls in place. The controls are removed if the disease doesn’t reoccur during this period.

Some sites choose to cull and disinfect their stocks, rather than undergo monitoring.

Confirmed designation

If a notifiable disease is confirmed, FHI places controls to limit the spread of disease (these are known as confirmed designations). The following conditions are applied under disease controls:

  • No person may, without the previous consent in writing of the FHI, move any aquatic animal including eggs, and gametes, into, out of or within a confirmed designation area.
  • Disposal of dead aquatic animals, including eggs and gametes, must be by an approved method for disposal of Category 2 animal-by-product waste in compliance with local Environmental Health department requirements
  • Notify the Fish Health Inspectorate immediately should mortalities re-occur or spread to other waters within the designated area.
  • Ensure the disinfection of all angling equipment such as unhooking mats, nets and weigh slings, prior to being removed from the designated area (exclusion of rods, reels and fishing line accepted). For this purpose, maintain on-site facilities for the disinfection of angling equipment upon exit from the designated area, as directed by the Fish Health Inspectorate. Maintain efficacy of disinfectant solutions in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
  • The use of dedicated angling equipment supplied by the fishery is permitted, for sole use within the designated area.
  • Display disease control zone signage on site for public information, as issued by the Fish Health Inspectorate.
  • Notify the FHI in advance of all intended physical changes to sites within the designated area - such as site boundaries, number or size of waters, use of the site. FHI written permission will be required beforehand for all such changes.
  • All requests for consents required under this Confirmed Designation Notice must be submitted to the FHI with a minimum of 5 working days’ notice.

New outbreaks

When laboratory testing confirms KHV disease at a site, the FHI place statutory controls to limit the spread of the disease. These controls restrict movement of aquatic animals and ensure equipment is disinfected.

Disease controls lifted at:

Further information

You can:

Background

Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV) is a listed disease under The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. KHV outbreaks have been subject to statutory controls in the UK since 2007. The UK maintains a surveillance programme for this disease.

When the FHI confirm an outbreak, they take steps to control and, wherever possible, remove the disease. This may 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 gametes.

Updates to this page

Published 7 May 2021
Last updated 28 July 2022 + show all updates

  1. All 2021 KHV disease outbreaks have now been revoked.

  2. A new disease outbreak listed - CD22.2021

  3. A new disease outbreak listed CD21.2021

  4. A new disease outbreak listed - CD20.2021

  5. New outbreak of KHV added to the list at Springwood Fisheries.

  6. New confirmed outbreak added to the list - Soham By - Pass Lake, Cambridgeshire - 1 October 2021

  7. New confirmed outbreak of KHV now included in the list.

  8. A new disease outbreak now listed, CD16.2021

  9. The list of confirmed outbreaks has been updated.

  10. CD14.2021 now published

  11. A new disease outbreak listed CD13.2021

  12. List updated with a new KHV confirmed outbreak at Bennion Pool.

  13. CD02.2021 - Diseases controls lifted following disinfection.

  14. Added Theydon Bois Valley Lakes, 16th September

  15. A new disease outbreak listed

  16. CD08.2021 & CD09.2021 now listed

  17. CD07.2021 now added to 2021 listing

  18. List updated with a new confirmed outbreak of KHV at Hartley Lands Fishery.

  19. Added Willow Garth Fisheries, South Yorkshire - 29 July 2021

  20. CD04.2021 now listed

  21. New outbreak's CD02.2021 and CD03.2021 now listed

  22. CD01.2021 has been revoked following completition of a cull and disinfection.

  23. First published.

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