The Irish veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification dated 9 October to the OIE.
The report describes 15 outbreaks of the disease in farmed Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) at different locations around nearly all of the Irish coast between early June and August this year. Morbidity and mortality up to 90 to 95 per cent have been reported.
The report adds tha mortalities have been considerable, particularly in seed. Half-grown and adult oysters have also suffered mortalities in some areas though at lower levels. Transmission due to movement of animals from one site to another as well as through the water has been observed in certain bays. Transmission from oysters recovered from OsHV1 infection in 2008 to naive juvenile oysters has also been observed. Although mortalities now appear to be at an end, infection of stocks that will be introduced into infected areas between now and next summer is anticipated once temperatures begin to climb in summer 2010.
Movement controls inside the country and zoning are being applied.
Ireland Reports High Mortality from Oyster Herpes Virus
IRELAND - The veterinary authorities are reporting what appears to be an emerging disease - a suspected variant Ostreid herpes virus 1 (OsHV1) of oysters to the World Organisation of Animal Health (OIE).
