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Alarm in the Old Danube: Over 200 carp affected by the Koi virus!
In the Alte Donau, Vienna, over 200 carp died from koi herpes virus. Control and monitoring measures have been initiated.
Alarm in the Old Danube: Over 200 carp affected by the Koi virus!
The sight of over 200 dead carp in the Old Danube in Vienna is causing concern. As meinkreis.at reports, the koi herpes virus (KHV) is the most likely cause of the massive fish deaths. The virus could have been introduced into the waters through illegal releases of ornamental fish, especially koi. However, there is currently no acute danger to the domestic carp population, as the immunity of the underwater animals increases in parallel with the spread of the virus.
Franz Kiwek, the president of the Austrian Fishing Society, described the incident as dramatic but localized. He also warns against careless handling of non-native animal species, as this can lead to such epidemics. The city of Vienna has already introduced measures to monitor and combat the virus. According to ORF Vienna, bathers are not at risk and swimming remains safe.
Control and monitoring measures
The dead fish are regularly collected and disposed of by MA 45 and volunteers. The area around the Kagraner Bridge is particularly affected. The authorities have also set up protection zones in which no mowing is carried out on the banks or under water. Fishing for coarse fish is prohibited until Monday, September 15th; However, predator fishing remains unaffected.
The regulations put in place are monitored using echo sounders and GPS data. It is still unclear where the virus comes from, but it is known that KHV can lead to a high mortality rate. Infected fish shed the virus through their skin, mucus, feces and urine, which explains its rapid spread in carp populations. According to TiHo Hannover, the mortality rate can be between 80 and 100 percent.
Eating fish from the Old Danube
The city of Vienna strongly recommends not consuming fish from the Old Danube in order to avoid health risks. There are currently no vaccines or therapeutics available to protect endangered populations. Monitoring of fish stocks will be continued by both the city and experts to prevent further losses.
The Old Danube shows once again how important the careful and considered use of aquatic resources is. Only through responsible actions and attention can we avoid future problems in our waters.