"We are beginning to suspect this has been here for quite a while and remained unnoticed, which is encouraging," said Lutz with the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center.
The disease was first detected last month at a crawfish farm near Arnaudville. The disease, which is not harmful to humans, but can kill crawfish, has now been confirmed in commercial ponds across much of southwest Louisiana and in the Atchafalaya Basin.
The disease has been confirmed in 20 ponds in six parishes and in at least two samples of wild crawfish from the Basin.
State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Bob Odom said the 20 positive results for commercial ponds were out of 29 tested, raising fears the disease is widespread. Test results are pending on more than 70 other samples.
Source: The Daily Advertiser
Crawfish disease proves widespread
US - A dozen more crawfish ponds have tested positive for "White Spot" disease but Greg Lutz, state aquaculture specialist, said crawfish farmers and consumers need not be concerned.