Agriculture Ministry clarifies about carp fish mass mortality in Jordan Valley

AMMAN — Mass mortality among the carp fish in farms in the Jordan Valley region are associated with fish lice and the Koi herpesvirus disease, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Wednesday.

Preliminary examinations revealed that the carp were infected with parasites (carp lice), and showed symptoms indicating infections with Koi herpesvirus disease, which caused similar die-offs in fish farms in some neighbouring countries, the ministry said in a statement reported by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

This disease, which appeared four days ago in specific farms that depend exclusively on the waters of the Jordan River, does not pose a threat to people, as it cannot spread to humans when the infected fish is consumed, the statement read, noting that a committee is to be formed to address the issue.