The syndrome caused high mortalities in farmed and feral Pacific oysters in parts of the Georges River and Botany Bay in New South Wales in late 2010.
In early 2011, the disease was detected in feral Pacific oysters in the Parramatta River. High mortalities of Pacific oysters have occurred overseas, but have not been reported in Australia previously.
This disease has not affected Sydney rock oysters.
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries is managing the incident locally and has placed movement restrictions on the affected areas in Botany Bay and the Georges River to manage the risk of disease spread.
The Aquatic Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases has been convened to monitor developments and to assist New South Wales in its management of the situation. The states with Pacific oyster industries (New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania) are participating in a national surveillance programme to determine the distribution of the virus in Australia.
The states involved, the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory are contributing to this programme.
Further Reading
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