June 1, 2006

Disease outbreak emerges in UK trout farm

Scientists at the UK's Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) are investigating the origins of an outbreak of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS) fish disease at a trout farm in Yorkshire, an important trout growing area in the UK.

A spokeswoman for the UK's fisheries department Defra, said this was the first case of its kind in freshwater fish in the UK. 19 tonnes of fish have been removed from the affected farm.

Meanwhile, movement restriction orders have been imposed on 33 trout farms in the River Ouse catchment area in Yorkshire following confirmation of the outbreak.

VHS is a notifiable disease affecting farmed rainbow trout and can cause up to 80 percent mortality.

Fish farms in the area have been inspected but none have indicated evidence of disease.

However, more detailed results of tests are expected soon and inspections of other sites are due to be completed later this week.