Taiwan, China tilapia infected with tilapia lake virus, mortality rate high; sixth global case suspected to be caused by imported fry

Taiwan, China has reported a confirmed case of "Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV)" in tilapia. A large number of fish died at a tilapia farm in Taoyuan City. Testing by the Animal Health Research Institute has confirmed it as tilapia lake virus disease.

According to a notification by the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health), 5 countries worldwide have reported cases of tilapia infected with tilapia lake virus: Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Israel and Thailand. The Council of Agriculture today (the 13th) confirmed that Taiwan, China is the sixth case globally. Cases have also been reported in mainland China, while the epidemic situation in other countries remains unclear.

The Council of Agriculture has now launched a "disease prevention and containment mechanism," issuing a "movement control" order for the infected farm in Taoyuan and collecting samples from tilapia ponds within a 3-kilometer radius around it to determine whether the epidemic has spread.

The Council of Agriculture also stressed that "the virus does not infect humans or poultry and livestock." Moreover, dead fish first sink to the bottom, and only float to the surface after the bodies decompose. "By the time they float to the surface, they already stink." This rules out concerns about them entering the consumer market, and consumers are asked not to panic.