Press release
Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in 2025
The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) have found Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in fish at the following sites in England and Wales
Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/news/outbreaks-of-koi-herpesvirus-khv-disease-in-2025
Change description : 2025-10-08 10:38:00: Added CD25.2025 to list of KHV controls. [News and communications]
Showing diff : 2025-09-03 15:49:49.468624042 +00:00..2025-10-08 09:39:24.010474095 +00:00
KHV is a serious viral disease of fish and is a listed disease in the United Kingdom. It affects all varieties of common and ornamental carp species (Cyprinus carpio) and can result in large scale mortalities. Fish with KHV disease may show the following signs, especially when water temperatures are between 16 to 28 °C:
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necrotic (white or brown) patches on the gills
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rough patches on the skin and sloughing mucous
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sunken eyes
You must contact the FHI if you suspect an outbreak of KHV. This includes fish with the above signs, or deaths of carp or carp hybrids.
There is no risk to public health.
Sites with KHV disease must undergo a formal monitoring programme immediately following the outbreak. The FHI visit these sites to look for evidence of disease and to inspect compliance with the conditions of the statutory controls in place.
Confirmed designation
If a notifiable disease is confirmed, FHI places controls to limit the spread of disease (these are known as confirmed designations). The following conditions are applied under disease controls:
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No person may, without the previous consent in writing of the FHI, move any aquatic animal including eggs, and gametes, into, out of or within a confirmed designation area.
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Disposal of dead aquatic animals, including eggs and gametes, must be by an approved method for disposal of Category 2 animal-by-product waste in compliance with local Environmental Health department requirements
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Notify the Fish Health Inspectorate immediately should mortalities re-occur or spread to other waters/facilities within the designated area.
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Notify the FHI in advance of all intended physical changes to sites within the designated area - such as site boundaries, number or size of waters, use of the site. FHI written permission will be required beforehand for all such changes.
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All requests for consents required under this Confirmed Designation Notice must be submitted to the FHI with a minimum of 5 working days’ notice.
New outbreaks
When laboratory testing confirms KHV disease at a site, the FHI place statutory controls to limit the spread of the disease. These controls restrict movement of aquatic animals.
Disease controls have been applied at:
Diseases controls lifted at:
You can:
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view all KHV disease outbreaks, their locations, and controls
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find out more about KHV disease
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take steps to prevent the introduction and spread of KHV disease
Background
Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV) is a listed disease under The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. KHV outbreaks have been subject to statutory controls in the UK since 2007. The UK maintains a surveillance programme for this disease.
When the FHI confirm an outbreak, they take steps to control and, wherever possible, remove the disease. This may involve movement controls on susceptible species in the affected area, enhanced biosecurity, culling of fish, and cleaning and disinfecting of the premises.
Once statutory controls are in place the site operators must write to the FHI to get permission to move live fish into, out of, or within the designated area, and to make material changes to the site or site activities. This also applies to fish eggs and gametes.
Updates to this page
Published 11 June 2025
Last updated -
Added CD25.2025 to list of KHV controls.
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A new disease outbreak listed
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Added CD23.2025 notice to KHV controls for 2025.
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Added CD22.2025 to the KHV list for 2025
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Added CD.20 to the list of notices for 2025.
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Added CD.19 Notice to 2025 KHV outbreak page
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Four new disease outbreaks listed
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Added CD.14 Notice to KHV outbreak list for 2025.
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Added CD.13 Notice to 2025 KHV outbreak page.
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Added CD.12 Notice to outbreak list for 2025.
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Added CD.11 notice for 2025
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Added tenth CD notice to the 2025 page for KHV
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All CD notices have been replaced with amended versions with complete address details.
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Added CD.09 notice to web page
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Added seventh and eighth CD Notice for 2025
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2 new disease outbreaks listed for 2025
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A new disease outbreak listed for 2025
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Added third CD notice for 2025
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Added new entry for 2025 - second CD notice published
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First published.