KHV In Niigata Japan

[sundan]

Has anyone heard any new info from Niigata how things are going? Here is letter from Hajime Isa...
To worldwide Nishikigoi lovers and dealersUrgent Notice and Report on Infection of KHV (Koi Herpes Virus) Vol.3 July 10th, 2006

We greatly appreciate the messages of understanding and encouragement you have sent from all over the world regarding the KHV infection research results reported on June 28 and July 7.
Some have expressed concerns on why the real names of the breeders or Koi Farms who owned the infected Koi have not been disclosed, or some have stated that they should be disclosed. In reflecting those opinions, we would like to take this opportunity to explain why we, INPC, made a decision not to announce them.

Needless to say, we have identified all of the breeders who owned the KHV infected Koi. We of course discussed whether the real names should be disclosed or not. Upon discussion, we came to a conclusion not to, at least not on the internet, for the following two reasons.

1) Those of you who have visited the Nishikigoi production area in Niigagata know well that all breeders raise Koi by distributing them into numerous ponds (or pools). Considering only production efficiency, it might be better to gather them in one big pond, but the breeders distribute them to diversify risks and to produce high-quality Nishikigoi. This method has been used for a long time in the birthplace of Nishikigoi and will not be changed. So when there is a misfortune of an outbreak of KHV such as this time, the breeders cull all of the Koi from the pond (or pool) from where the infected Koi was found. Then water is drained from that pond or pool, and they are thoroughly disinfected. At the same time, non-infected Koi (KHV free Koi) are put into other ponds and pools under strict control to identify other possible occurrences of KHV. These KHV free Koi are always available from Niigata Prefecture’s public experiment organization. If and when there are slightest signs of infection, Koi in that pond or pool are immediately culled, and they are disinfected. The progress reports that have been released earlier are based on these processes.

Stated in other words, the breeders which owned the KHV infected Koi have culled part of their Koi but still keep breeding many Koi that have been confirmed to be safe. They will be sold along with other breeders’ Koi when their safety is completely confirmed.
Not all Koi lovers and dealers are fully aware of these procedures and KHV countermeasures. If we announce the real names of the breeders, some people may be misinformed and may suspect Koi from those breeders that are proven to be safe. We want to avoid this situation. This is our first reason.

2) Niigata, as the place of origin of Nishikigoi, has a 200-year history, and the majority of the breeders run Koi farms as their family business. Because of that many of them have the same last names or have Koi farms with the same names. Therefore, if we announce the real names of the breeders or Koi farms, there is a great possibility that cognominal breeders or Koi farms may be mistaken for the breeder of the KHV Koi. Of course they are in no way responsible for the KHV occurrence. This is the second reason: to avoid the risk of involving unrelated breeders.

As already informed, we were able to take complete measures against the KHV outbreak for the following reasons; appropriate actions were taken immediately after the outbreak, handling was easy fortunately because occurrence was during spawning to fry season, and circulation of the infected Koi in the market was prevented.

KHV is, unfortunately, an infectious disease caused by a virus that can break out in any part the world at any time. There is no way to reduce the risk of KHV by 100 percent. That is why, an industry-government-academia team works together to protect the Nishikigoi, the Japanese traditional culture and Niigata’s pride, from the risk of KHV.

Niigata’s Nishikigoi breeders, without exception, have a lot of pride and love in breeding Nishikigoi. If none of the risks mentioned above would exist upon disclosing names of breeders’ who owned the infected Koi, they themselves would like to personally meet you to kneel down to the ground and apologize for causing anxiety and for letting the Koi become infected due to their own carelessness.

I hope you will understand our perspective and also place your trust in that Niigata still is the best supplying district for the safest and high-quality Nishikigoi.





Hajime Isa, Niigata Regional Director,
All Japan Nishikigoi Promotion Association

http://www.japan-nishikigoi.org/#




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[dinh]

it has been discussed in this thread

KHV News...

[joe bauer]

Quote: Originally Posted by sundan So when there is a misfortune of an outbreak of KHV such as this time, the breeders cull all of the Koi from the pond (or pool) from where the infected Koi was found. Then water is drained from that pond or pool, and they are thoroughly disinfected. At the same time, non-infected Koi (KHV free Koi) are put into other ponds and pools under strict control to identify other possible occurrences of KHV. Stated in other words, the breeders which owned the KHV infected Koi have culled part of their Koi but still keep breeding many Koi that have been confirmed to be safe. They will be sold along with other breeders’ Koi when their safety is completely confirmed. postamble();

this doesn't sound good. koi that have been with infected koi but show no signs of illness are confirmed to be safe? how do they know they are not "carriers"?

i would feel better about buying japanese koi if i knew that al koi on a farm with an infected fish were destroyed.

[dick benbow]

Here's my view on the situation......the livlihood of an entire industry is on the line. to do something expedient for a quick-solve is not in anyone's interest. It's their decision to make how they handle this. you have to feel it will be done in a manner that best protects all parties involved. if you are not comfortable with thier decsion you can always withhold future purchases until there is a time that you feel the anxiety is unwarranted.

for those of you who feel uncomfortable, maybe this is the time for you to invest in some domestic koi breeders work.

whatever your decision I hope you will take this time to be motivated to have a QT tank and know how to use it. It's kinda like a seatbelt, it can't save your life unless you use it....hopefully you'll never have to find out

I thought the analogy about investments and not having all their koi in one facility was an insight into their situation.

please don't over react to this situation. Find your comfort level with the situation and enjoy the hobby. this year i have gotten koi from Toshio sakai
and Mat at Quality koi, I've had no troubles, have followed the QT rules and have confidence in my sources. Hope you'll be able to do the same.....

[MikeM]

Joe: You misunderstand. There are KHV-free koi kept at a central location that are placed in ponds with koi that have shown no sign of KHV to assure that KHV does not exist even in ponds with no sign of KHV. All koi in the pond identified with KHV are culled...i.e., exterminated. The KHV-free koi are placed in other ponds just in case the transmission was more widespread and just has not shown up for some reason. It is a way of being extra careful.

...BTW, the pond that had KHV is left drained and empty. Whether it will ever be used again is a question to which I do not have an answer, but there will have to be assurance of safety before any koi will be sold from the pond.

Unlike koi breeders in other parts of the world, this is not just economics. It is an entire way of life. Nishikigoi are the basis of a community. Without Nishikigoi, families would have to separate, the population would have to relocate to make a living... like in the old days when all able-bodied males (and not a few daughters) left in winter to work in the cities because there was no other way to survive in their beloved mountains. These are not people who would disgrace themselves, their families and their village by bringing doom to the people of Niigata.

[MikeM]

Dick: You posted while I was typing! ....Yep. Like I said on another thread, I'd not hesitate to buy from Niigata...but quarantine is simply essential to be confident no matter the source of the koi.

[joe bauer]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM Joe: You misunderstand. There are KHV-free koi kept at a central location that are placed in ponds with koi that have shown no sign of KHV to assure that KHV does not exist even in ponds with no sign of KHV. All koi in the pond identified with KHV are culled...i.e., exterminated. The KHV-free koi are placed in other ponds just in case the transmission was more widespread and just has not shown up for some reason. It is a way of being extra careful. ...BTW, the pond that had KHV is left drained and empty. Whether it will ever be used again is a question to which I do not have an answer, but there will have to be assurance of safety before any koi will be sold from the pond. .

You are correct, I did not understand what it meant by "cull". I have bought "culls" before, so I did not realize what it meant in this document.

Thank you for clearing this up for me.

I hope the Japanese breeders "get this right" the first time.