The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development has placed a ban on the importation of all ornamental fishes and tilapia species effective July 1 to control the outbreak of a virus.
The ban, which will last for six months is also to help identify the virus as the treatment is yet to be known.
This was necessitated after similar cases of the virus were reported across Africa, Asia and South America.
According to the Ministry, the virus poses a huge risk to the global tilapia industry.
In an interview with Citi News, the Head of Fish Health Unit at the Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Ministry, Dr. Peter Ziddah advised consumers to be vigilant and advised them to report any suspected case to the ministry.
“Simply, this disease if it enters into our waters, we will have a problem from both the cultured tilapia and the wild tilapia. Like I always say, prevention is better than cure. This decision is to help people at the borders to be able to stop the import of these fishes into the country” he said.
He however added that the ministry will continue to pay critical attention to the menace to find a solution soon.
“We are continuing our surveillance. Now we are going to do active surveillance to make sure that we don’t get it into the country. But the first point is to make sure the borders are protected” he added.