KHV - Koi disease found in Japan

On the INPC -International Nishikigoi Promotion Center website news is breaking about a reported outbreak of KHV (koi herpes virus). They have confirmed the outbreak with a report stating it was found in koi from dealers in Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture.

On Sunday, June 18, a KHV infected Koi was identified for the first time from a Niigata breeder. The source of infection was a tategoi transferred from another prefecture. All possibly infected Koi from that source have been inspected and culled. We are currently in the process of reinspecting all Niigata Koi to prevent the spread of KHV. Details will be reported in early July, but please allow us to offer our sincerest apologies for the anxiety caused.

Hajime Isa, Niigata Regional Director,All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association

The report says that everything is under control and not to worry, but I'm not so sure. Any KHV outbreak is a major concern and needs maximum effort to stop its spread. Some opinion on the internet is the shortage of breeding stock and the practice of using hobbiests koi is increasing the risks of introducing the virus to disease free koi. I don't know if this is true but it makes sense to trace all fish movements between farms. For the breeders it is currently a period that the koi have or are spawning, so hopefully losses won't be too bad.

A final report is due out about now....
INPC -International Nishikigoi Promotion Center