Scientists probe if herpes virus is killing sardines off South Africa

Scientists in South Africa are investigating the cause of recent mass sardine die-offs along the country's west and south coasts. A pilchard herpesvirus (PHV), previously linked to sardine mortality events in Australia, has been detected in the affected fish. This is the first time PHV has been identified in South African sardines. The virus can cause gill inflammation and thickening, hindering the fish's ability to absorb oxygen. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has been stumped by the mortality events, but scientists are exploring the potential role of PHV in these deaths.

Scientists in South Africa are investigating mass sardine deaths along the country's west and south coasts, with a pilchard herpesvirus (PHV) emerging as the leading explanation. This is the first time PHV has been identified in South African sardines, though it was linked to similar events in Australia in the 1990s. The virus can cause gill inflammation, hindering oxygen uptake. While other factors like harmful algae or temperature changes were considered, evidence increasingly points to PHV. The virus poses no known risk to humans, and commercially caught sardines remain safe. The mass die-offs have also impacted infrastructure, forcing the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to reduce power output due to clogged intakes.