I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Deadly virus found in wild Nidd fish
ANOTHER case of a deadly fish disease that first struck a Nidderdale fish farm has been discovered.
The viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) virus that was first found at Nidderdale Trout Farm has also been detected in a sample of wild fish taken from the River Nidd.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said although there is no scientific evidence that the virus causes significant disease outbreaks in wild freshwater fish stocks, persisting infection in wild stocks could be a source of infection or re-infection for trout farms in the area.
The infected sample was taken from the river downstream from Nidderdale Trout Farm.
The first outbreak of the deadly fish virus recorded in mainland Britain was confirmed at Nidderdale Trout Farm in Low Laithe, earlier this month.
The news led to a quarter of a million fish, worth more than ?50,000, being slaughtered.
Thirty-three other fish farms in the River Ouse Yorkshire catchment area were quarantined in a bid to contain the virus.
This week Defra said there had been no more cases of the disease on trout farms in the area affected by the current case.
The first round of testing on all farmed sites had returned negative results so far and was due to be completed later this week. A second round of testing began last week, with results expected by the middle of July.
It added the virus had no implications for human health.
ANOTHER case of a deadly fish disease that first struck a Nidderdale fish farm has been discovered.
The viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) virus that was first found at Nidderdale Trout Farm has also been detected in a sample of wild fish taken from the River Nidd.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said although there is no scientific evidence that the virus causes significant disease outbreaks in wild freshwater fish stocks, persisting infection in wild stocks could be a source of infection or re-infection for trout farms in the area.
The infected sample was taken from the river downstream from Nidderdale Trout Farm.
The first outbreak of the deadly fish virus recorded in mainland Britain was confirmed at Nidderdale Trout Farm in Low Laithe, earlier this month.
The news led to a quarter of a million fish, worth more than ?50,000, being slaughtered.
Thirty-three other fish farms in the River Ouse Yorkshire catchment area were quarantined in a bid to contain the virus.
This week Defra said there had been no more cases of the disease on trout farms in the area affected by the current case.
The first round of testing on all farmed sites had returned negative results so far and was due to be completed later this week. A second round of testing began last week, with results expected by the middle of July.
It added the virus had no implications for human health.