More culling as KHV spreads further

Carp farmers in many of Japan's fish producing prefectures have been ordered to have their fish culled following the spread of the deadly Koi Herpes Virus (KHV), according to a report on asahi.com.

Koi and food carp farmers in Kasumigaura in the Ibaraki prefecture are the latest to have their fish culled. Okayama, Shiga and Fukuoka have also been ordered to kill their fish, and the disease has now spread to 23 of Japan's 47 prefectures.

Many Koi farmers have said that they will be forced to go out of business because of the virus.

Professor Kishio Hatai: "The industry is scared and so, even if they do find an ornamental carp with KHV, they will keep it secret."...

Kishio Hatai, a professor at Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University in Musashino told the Australian: "It's really scary, and I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Japanese ornamental carp are highly esteemed overseas and even the rumour of KHV would tarnish their brand image.

The industry is scared and so, even if they do find an ornamental carp with KHV, they will keep it secret."

Sales of Koi within Japan have dropped to 20% and imports into the UK and other areas from the country are starting to look extremely unlikely.