International Journal Suggests Shrimp Virus May Cause Eye Disease; Medical Society: No Confirmed Cases in Taiwan
An international journal indicated that farmed shrimp virus (CMNV) might transmit to humans and cause eye diseases. However, the Uveitis Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan stated that there are no confirmed cases in Taiwan, and fresh food ingredients pose no risk. The society emphasized that existing medical models are mature, and the public should not panic. The CDC and Ministry of Agriculture are collaborating on monitoring and will establish CMNV PCR testing capabilities.
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- 📰 Published: April 18, 2026 at 13:58
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Shen Pei-Yao, Taipei, 18th) An international journal's claim that farmed shrimp virus (CMNV) might transmit to humans, causing discussion, led the Uveitis Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan to issue a statement today, indicating that there are no confirmed cases in Taiwan, fresh food ingredients pose no risk, and existing medical models are mature, urging the public not to panic.
Recently, the international academic journal Nature Microbiology pointed out that the "Covert Mortality Nodavirus (CMNV)" found in aquatic animals in nature is suspected to have the potential for interspecies transmission to humans, which may lead to humans suffering from "Persistent Ocular Hypertension Viral Anterior Uveitis (POH-VAU)."
Today, the Uveitis Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan stated that after consulting several uveitis experts in Taiwan, it was confirmed that although patients with similar symptoms occasionally appear clinically, ocular hypertension iritis (anterior uveitis) is already common in patients with eye diseases caused by herpesviridae and cytomegalovirus infections.
Therefore, the medical society emphasized that for this new virus (CMNV), current notifications in Taiwan are only for "symptoms being similar," and there have been no patients confirmed by viral sequencing and laboratory tests to date. Such patients are not a highly prevalent disease in Taiwan, and there is currently no evidence to suggest a high prevalence of this disease in Taiwan. The existing medical system already has treatment models and drugs for such diseases, so the public is urged to remain calm and not panic.
Dr. Yeh Po-Ting, Director of the Retina and Uveitis Department at National Taiwan University Hospital, told the Central News Agency that current efforts are all preventive monitoring, aiming to ensure that the medical system can respond early. He added that existing medical treatments and medications for such conditions are already in place, so the public should remain calm and not panic.
Regarding government monitoring, the medical society cited information from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), stating that national health authorities are actively finalizing the accuracy of the testing platform for this new disease. Once confirmed, it will be officially launched as a monitoring tool to protect public health. At the same time, clinical promotion work for related diseases is also rapidly underway to enhance frontline physicians' diagnostic awareness.
In addition, the medical society stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and the CDC are engaging in highly cross-ministerial cooperation to carefully monitor pathogen signals from the source of food ingredients. To date, no new discoveries have been made, which means that all fresh food ingredients circulating on the market currently pose no risk, and the public can safely choose and consume them.
The medical society reiterated that the virus has special transmission routes, and there have been no reports of human-to-human transmission to date. According to relevant authoritative papers, this disease has its specific transmission pathways. The main high-risk exposure behaviors include "frequent and unprotected handling of aquatic animals" and "consumption of raw aquatic products." However, there have been no confirmed reports of "human-to-human transmission" to date. In daily life, the public only needs to take simple protective measures (such as wearing gloves when handling aquatic products) to significantly reduce the risk of infection.
CDC Director-General Lo Yi-Chun also explained earlier on Facebook that the recently discussed shrimp-transmitted virus CMNV might cause the special uveitis POH-VAU. The CDC and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture launched a "One Health" mechanism to simultaneously monitor and assess domestic and international epidemic information.
Lo Yi-Chun said that according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) information, only China and Thailand have reported shrimp farm outbreaks globally, and medical literature has only found human cases in China.
Lo Yi-Chun said that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency's monitoring over the years has not found any shrimp farm outbreaks in Taiwan. After consulting the Ophthalmological Society, no increase in such suspected viral uveitis cases has been observed. It is judged that the risk of domestic transmission is extremely low, but both agricultural and health authorities will continue to strengthen monitoring and urge the public to avoid contact with or consumption of raw shrimp when visiting China and Thailand.
He finally emphasized that the CDC has begun to establish CMNV PCR testing capabilities and will discuss testing conditions with the Ophthalmological Society for "sending aqueous humor from the eyeball for testing." The testing process for suspected POH-VAU cases with unknown etiology in clinical ophthalmology may be available as early as mid-May. (Edited by Li Shu-Hua) 1150418
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(Central News Agency reporter Shen Pei-Yao, Taipei, 18th) An international journal's claim that farmed shrimp virus (CMNV) might transmit to humans, causing discussion, led the Uveitis Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan to issue a statement today, indicating that there are no confirmed cases in Taiwan, fresh food ingredients pose no risk, and existing medical models are mature, urging the public not to panic.
Recently, the international academic journal Nature Microbiology pointed out that the "Covert Mortality Nodavirus (CMNV)" found in aquatic animals in nature is suspected to have the potential for interspecies transmission to humans, which may lead to humans suffering from "Persistent Ocular Hypertension Viral Anterior Uveitis (POH-VAU)."
Today, the Uveitis Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Taiwan stated that after consulting several uveitis experts in Taiwan, it was confirmed that although patients with similar symptoms occasionally appear clinically, ocular hypertension iritis (anterior uveitis) is already common in patients with eye diseases caused by herpesviridae and cytomegalovirus infections.
Therefore, the medical society emphasized that for this new virus (CMNV), current notifications in Taiwan are only for "symptoms being similar," and there have been no patients confirmed by viral sequencing and laboratory tests to date. Such patients are not a highly prevalent disease in Taiwan, and there is currently no evidence to suggest a high prevalence of this disease in Taiwan. The existing medical system already has treatment models and drugs for such diseases, so the public is urged to remain calm and not panic.
Dr. Yeh Po-Ting, Director of the Retina and Uveitis Department at National Taiwan University Hospital, told the Central News Agency that current efforts are all preventive monitoring, aiming to ensure that the medical system can respond early. He added that existing medical treatments and medications for such conditions are already in place, so the public should remain calm and not panic.
Regarding government monitoring, the medical society cited information from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), stating that national health authorities are actively finalizing the accuracy of the testing platform for this new disease. Once confirmed, it will be officially launched as a monitoring tool to protect public health. At the same time, clinical promotion work for related diseases is also rapidly underway to enhance frontline physicians' diagnostic awareness.
In addition, the medical society stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and the CDC are engaging in highly cross-ministerial cooperation to carefully monitor pathogen signals from the source of food ingredients. To date, no new discoveries have been made, which means that all fresh food ingredients circulating on the market currently pose no risk, and the public can safely choose and consume them.
The medical society reiterated that the virus has special transmission routes, and there have been no reports of human-to-human transmission to date. According to relevant authoritative papers, this disease has its specific transmission pathways. The main high-risk exposure behaviors include "frequent and unprotected handling of aquatic animals" and "consumption of raw aquatic products." However, there have been no confirmed reports of "human-to-human transmission" to date. In daily life, the public only needs to take simple protective measures (such as wearing gloves when handling aquatic products) to significantly reduce the risk of infection.
CDC Director-General Lo Yi-Chun also explained earlier on Facebook that the recently discussed shrimp-transmitted virus CMNV might cause the special uveitis POH-VAU. The CDC and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture launched a "One Health" mechanism to simultaneously monitor and assess domestic and international epidemic information.
Lo Yi-Chun said that according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) information, only China and Thailand have reported shrimp farm outbreaks globally, and medical literature has only found human cases in China.
Lo Yi-Chun said that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency's monitoring over the years has not found any shrimp farm outbreaks in Taiwan. After consulting the Ophthalmological Society, no increase in such suspected viral uveitis cases has been observed. It is judged that the risk of domestic transmission is extremely low, but both agricultural and health authorities will continue to strengthen monitoring and urge the public to avoid contact with or consumption of raw shrimp when visiting China and Thailand.
He finally emphasized that the CDC has begun to establish CMNV PCR testing capabilities and will discuss testing conditions with the Ophthalmological Society for "sending aqueous humor from the eyeball for testing." The testing process for suspected POH-VAU cases with unknown etiology in clinical ophthalmology may be available as early as mid-May. (Edited by Li Shu-Hua) 1150418
Stand with the facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
FAQ
Can CMNV virus infect humans?
International journals suggest the possibility, but there are no confirmed cases in Taiwan yet, and no reports of human-to-human transmission.
Are fresh food ingredients in Taiwan safe?
According to monitoring by the Ministry of Agriculture and the CDC, fresh food ingredients on the market are currently without risk.