New Virus Associated With (But Not Causing) Mass Oyster Die-Offs
Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - UBC researchers found a new virus in farmed Pacific Oysters that perished during a mass die-off in 2023. During the die-off, researchers collected 33 dead oysters as well as 26 wild oysters from neighbouring sites. Pacific Oyster Nidovirus 1 (PONV1) was only found in 20 of the dead or dying farmed oysters. Dr Kevin Xu Zhong, a research associate in the UBC department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS), explained this does not mean the virus was the cause of death. “We found this new virus. There is no indication it is causing the mortality mentioned…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.