Aquaculture Shrimp Virus Suspected of Cross-Species Transmission to Humans, CDC: Domestic Risk Very Low
Regarding the suspected human transmission of an aquaculture shrimp virus (CMNV) in China, Taiwan's CDC assesses the domestic transmission risk as very low. The agency will continue to monitor international outbreaks and develop testing methods, while advising the public on food safety.
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- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 12:54
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Regarding the suspected human transmission of an aquaculture shrimp virus in China, the Food and Drug Administration (CDC) stated today that only China has reported suspected cases globally, and the domestic transmission risk is assessed as very low. It reminds the public to wear gloves when handling aquatic products, ensure seafood is thoroughly cooked, and that individuals with chronic illnesses should avoid raw food to ensure health.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Disease Control Administration (CDC) issued a press release today stating that recent online discussions citing research from the international journal Nature Microbiology suggest that "Cryptic Mortality Nodavirus (CMNV)," found in wild aquatic animals, may potentially have the ability to cross-species transmit to humans, possibly causing "persistent high intraocular pressure viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU)" in humans.
The CDC stated that currently, only China has reported suspected human cases of CMNV infection, distributed across 18 provinces with high aquaculture levels in that country. Major international public health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have not reported any related cases and have not classified it as an urgent threat.
The CDC pointed out that the research infers that human infection with CMNV may be related to handling or consuming raw aquatic products, but further evidence is needed to confirm whether this virus has the ability to effectively infect human ocular tissues. Currently, there have been no large-scale human outbreaks or community transmission events caused by CMNV globally, nor is there evidence of infection from consuming generally cooked aquatic products internationally.
To prevent potential issues, the CDC emphasized that it will continue to monitor relevant international outbreaks and develop human specimen testing techniques and testing methods to establish relevant sampling and testing conditions for risk monitoring and early warning. According to monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), there have been no CMNV outbreaks in shrimp farms domestically. The CDC's comprehensive assessment indicates a very low domestic transmission risk, but agricultural and health authorities will continue to strengthen monitoring.
Since CMNV has been listed as a new infectious disease by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and both China and Thailand have reported infections in shrimp farms, the CDC urges travelers to the aforementioned regions to take special precautions. These include thoroughly heating seafood, high-risk groups (such as those with chronic illnesses) avoiding raw seafood, wearing gloves when handling fresh aquatic products, and if hands have wounds, avoiding direct contact with fresh ingredients. After handling, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection from various pathogens. (Editor: Li Xi-zhang) 1150418
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The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Disease Control Administration (CDC) issued a press release today stating that recent online discussions citing research from the international journal Nature Microbiology suggest that "Cryptic Mortality Nodavirus (CMNV)," found in wild aquatic animals, may potentially have the ability to cross-species transmit to humans, possibly causing "persistent high intraocular pressure viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU)" in humans.
The CDC stated that currently, only China has reported suspected human cases of CMNV infection, distributed across 18 provinces with high aquaculture levels in that country. Major international public health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have not reported any related cases and have not classified it as an urgent threat.
The CDC pointed out that the research infers that human infection with CMNV may be related to handling or consuming raw aquatic products, but further evidence is needed to confirm whether this virus has the ability to effectively infect human ocular tissues. Currently, there have been no large-scale human outbreaks or community transmission events caused by CMNV globally, nor is there evidence of infection from consuming generally cooked aquatic products internationally.
To prevent potential issues, the CDC emphasized that it will continue to monitor relevant international outbreaks and develop human specimen testing techniques and testing methods to establish relevant sampling and testing conditions for risk monitoring and early warning. According to monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), there have been no CMNV outbreaks in shrimp farms domestically. The CDC's comprehensive assessment indicates a very low domestic transmission risk, but agricultural and health authorities will continue to strengthen monitoring.
Since CMNV has been listed as a new infectious disease by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and both China and Thailand have reported infections in shrimp farms, the CDC urges travelers to the aforementioned regions to take special precautions. These include thoroughly heating seafood, high-risk groups (such as those with chronic illnesses) avoiding raw seafood, wearing gloves when handling fresh aquatic products, and if hands have wounds, avoiding direct contact with fresh ingredients. After handling, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection from various pathogens. (Editor: Li Xi-zhang) 1150418
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.