Taiwan CDC: No Significant Risk from Shrimp Virus CMNV, Only Suspected Cases in China

Recent online rumors suggesting that consuming shrimp could lead to infection with a new virus, the 'Cryptic Mortality Nodavirus' (CMNV), have prompted a clear response from Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The agency has moved to reassure the public, stating that the risk to Taiwan's population is extremely low. While a study published in 'Nature Microbiology' noted the potential for CMNV to cross species barriers, the CDC emphasized that current evidence points only to suspected cases in China, primarily linked to aquaculture.

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Currently, only suspected human infection cases of CMNV are distributed in 18 provinces in China with more aquatic product farming, and it has not been listed as a major public health threat by the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Deputy Director-General of the CDC, Tseng Shu-hui, clarified that neither the World Health Organization nor major international health bodies have classified CMNV as a significant public health threat. There is no indication of large-scale human epidemics or community spread globally. The research suggesting a link between CMNV and human eye conditions remains speculative and requires further scientific validation. Crucially, the CDC stressed that there is no evidence to suggest that consuming cooked seafood poses any risk of CMNV infection, advising the public against unnecessary panic.

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There is currently no evidence to suggest that eating cooked seafood can be infected with CMNV, and the public does not need to worry excessively about their daily diet.

From Taiwan's perspective, the swift and clear communication from the CDC is vital in managing public health information and preventing undue alarm. The agency highlighted that Taiwan's own monitoring systems, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Veterinary Administration, have not detected CMNV in local shrimp farms. While CMNV has been listed as an emerging animal infectious disease by the World Organisation for Animal Health, and cases have appeared in shrimp farms in China and Thailand, the domestic risk is deemed minimal. The CDC's advice to avoid raw seafood and maintain hand hygiene are standard public health recommendations that help mitigate risks from various pathogens, reinforcing a proactive approach to health security without causing widespread anxiety.

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Taiwan's shrimp farms have never detected CMNV outbreaks to date.