Herpes kills thousands of goldfish

PURWAKARTA, West Java: Dozens of tons of goldfish in West Java have died of a viral disease in the last 10 days, sending fish farmers in the region into a panic.

Agung, a fish breeder in Wanayasa, said on Tuesday that the fish may have been infected by the herpes virus currently affecting Java, which causes spots or blisters on the skin of the fish.

"It's very deadly and fish infected by the virus will die in a relatively short time."

Similar cases were reported by fish pond owners in Cipulus, Cihanjawar and other areas in the south of the regency. Farmers complained that the disease spread quickly and they could not find an effective cure to fight the virus.

Uya, 45, a fish farmer in Cihanjawar village, said farmers had put salt and papaya leaf extract in the ponds to save the fish. --Antara