THE Norwegian Veterinary Institute has found a new disease in Norwegian cod, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has reported. A bacterium identified as Francisella sp. has been isolated in connection with an outbreak out of disease where the main characteristics have been chronic inflammation reactions with knots in several organs. Some fish reportedly had eye injuries and a few had bloody knots in the skin.

In one farm, 40 percent mortality was registered in adult cod over a period of five months. For the time being it is not clear how wide spread the disease is, or whether it affects wild fish.

The isolated bacterium does not grow at 37 degrees, and it is unlikely that the disease can be transferred to warm-blooded animals. A similar bacterium has been found in connection with disease in tilapia in Taiwan and in marine fish in Japan, the authority writes.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority urges the fish farming industry to be extra vigilant with regards to this disease and to report any suspicions to the fish health service.

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