A temporary ban on imported shrimp from India has been announced by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) due to worries about the White Spot Virus (WSV) contamination.
The choice was made following an investigation by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture into several samples of frozen shrimp imported from India that tested positive for the virus.
Before lifting the ban, the authority has also stated that it is committed to safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s fisheries from any potential virus spread.
This move by the SFDA demonstrates the value of maintaining the safety of food in the nation and the readiness of the agency to act quickly to protect the health and welfare of its citizens.
Several species of penaeid shrimp, including the black tiger shrimp, white leg shrimp, and giant tiger prawn, are susceptible to the highly contagious viral disease known as the white spot virus (WSV). It is regarded to be among the most severe viral diseases that affect shrimps globally.
The term “white spot” refers to the distinctive white spots or patches that the virus causes to appear on the exoskeleton of infected prawns. Other signs of the infection, such as lethargy, reduced feeding, and strange swimming behavior, may also be seen in infected shrimp.
Due to its high level of contagiousness, WSV can spread quickly through waterborne transmission methods like contaminated water or living carrier organisms. Once an infected prawn population has spread, mortality rates can reach 100% in the most severe cases.
Since there is currently no known treatment for WSV, prevention strategies like sound biosecurity procedures and good pond management are the most efficient ways to stop the disease’s spread. Antiviral drugs can sometimes be used to treat infected shrimp, but their efficacy is constrained, and their use is not advised as a regular preventative measure.
