Herpes Virus To The Rescue: Australia Will Utilize Virus To Curb Ballooning Carp Population

Just when you thought that the herpes virus is something to shun, you thought wrong. Australia will utilize the herpes virus to help the government put an end to the out-of-control carp population. But what's wrong with a lot of carp swimming around?

According to The Verge, the Australian government considers carp as an invasive species. By introducing the herpes virus to the present carp population, they are looking at slashing the said population by 95 percent in the next three decades.

Carp Is A Nast Pest In Waterways

What the Australian government does not like about the growing carp population is that it makes up 80 percent of the Murray Darling Basin fish biomass. Christopher Pyne, minister for industry, innovation and science said that carp is a "nasty pest in the waterways," which is why the government will infect them with the herpes virus to curb their population.

#Australia plans to kill off carp with #herpes! Wait...an STD? >>> https://t.co/OjqCeMTSMQ

— 98.7 KLUV (@KLUV987) May 3, 2016

Carp Population Harmful To Wildlife

Reports have it that the growing carp population is harmful to Australia's native wildlife. The said fish consume food sources, bringing more harm than good. Since it is able to tolerate various living conditions, it can grow out of proportions, consuming more food and leaving much less for the rest of the wildlife.

The Guardian said that the government allotted a $15 million budget to eradicate the carp population, which will make use of the introduction of the herpes virus to the said fish species. Once the virus is introduced, it will destroy the skin and kidneys of the fish after seven days. Once the fish starts to exhibit such symptoms, death will come within 24 hours.

Herpes Virus To The Rescue

The herpes virus is targeted for the carp population. Worries about the herpes virus affecting other species were quickly debunked. According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the CyHV-3 virus was tested for seven years using other fish and animals. The herpes virus will be introduced into the basin in stages.

Plans are available for underfunded fish to balance the effect of the herpes virus on the carp. Controlling the growing population of carp goes hand-in-hand with riverbank rehabilitation and making fish-friendly irrigation infrastructure.

Some people still wonder if the introduction of the herpes virus is totally safe for the ecosystem. When the carp dies, what happens to the herpes virus? These questions still need to be answered.