Oyster herpes found in Essex river
Movement of live Pacific oysters in the Essex area has been restricted after an outbreak of oyster herpes was confirmed in the River Roach.
BBC News today. Controls have been extended to the River Crouch, River Colne, and River Blackwater as well as the River Roach.
The measures have been put in place to stop the disease spreading to other parts of the coast, and anyone - such as importers, farmers and fisheries â€' wishing to move any live Pacific oysters into and out of area must consult the Fish Health Inspectorate.
Cefas stressed that there was no risk to human health as the virus only affects molluscs, although the strain is believed to have killed more than eight million oysters thanks to an outbreak in Whitstable, Kent, in 2010.
Oysters become susceptible to oyster herpes in waters of 16 degrees or over, with younger animals particularly at risk from an epidemic.
Cefas is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
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