Causative agent: Novirhabdovirus — rhabdovirus
Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS) is a serious notifiable viral disease that Australia works actively to keep out through stringent biosecurity controls on imported fish and fish products. The disease causes widespread internal and external haemorrhaging in affected fish, along with neurological symptoms including erratic corkscrewing swimming behaviour. While VHS primarily affects salmonids and some marine species in its natural range across the Northern Hemisphere, new strains have been shown to infect a very wide range of fish species. Australia's strict import regulations for fish and fish products are specifically designed to prevent VHS from entering the country, where it could devastate both the aquaculture industry and native fish populations. Any Australian aquarium keeper or fish farmer who observes unexplained haemorrhagic symptoms with rapid mass mortality is obligated to report to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) as a matter of urgency.
Symptoms
- •Haemorrhaging of skin, eyes, and internal organs
- •bulging eyes
- •anaemia
- •darkened skin
- •erratic spinning or spiralling swimming
- •sudden high mortality in a population
Treatment
- •No effective treatment — NOTIFIABLE disease in Australia. Euthanise all affected fish. Strict decontamination of all equipment. Report immediately to DAFF.
Australian Medications
- •No treatment available — reportable to Australian DAFF immediately
Commonly Affected Fish
- •Wide range of marine and freshwater fish
- •salmonids, herring, flatfish, sprat, turbot primarily affected
Important Notes
NOTIFIABLE DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA — report immediately to DAFF. Australia's strict import biosecurity aims to prevent VHS entry.