The government on Wednesday announced plans to extend a ban on vannamei shrimp imports. 

''This regulation was issued in order to prevent the virus entering the country and threatening people's health,'' Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said in a media release.

The World Organization for Animal Health detected seven infectious viruses among vannamei shrimp in China, India, Thailand and Vietnam. The ban will cover the next six months, with the possibility of it being extended for another six.

Shrimp is one of the country's most lucrative export commodities in the fisheries sector, netting about $2.3 billion in 2007.