As you take care of your Koi, you should always protect them from deadly viruses such as the KHV (or the Koi Herpes Virus). You should know that your fish is very prone to the disease. So how do you protect them from this disease? The only way to protect your pets is to make sure they never get exposed to it. Having the necessary information about the virus can help you protect your Koi better.
The Facts About KHV:

So what is KHV? Since the primary outbreak, a little has only been learned about the virus. Knowing the facts is an essential thing for the protection and survival of your own pets. The KHV is a deadly disease which has just recently popped up in the industry. During the late 1998 and early 1999, the first outbreak has been reported in Israel, then followed by confirmed reports in other places like Asia, the United States and Europe.

The disease will infect the victim for life. Even the fish who don't show any signs of the virus, they are considered as carriers if they have been exposed to it. The mortality rate of the exposed fish is around 60 percent to 80 percent.

There is no cure for the KHV. Even if proper treatment has been given to your pet, they can never be introduced again to a new home, because if they get blended in a healthy population, they will spread the virus to the others, causing a high mortality rate. The virus can spread through various means: like the fish coming into contact with the infected ones, if the fish swam in the water where the infected ones swam, the tools used to handle the infected fish, and many more.

Stress doesn't directly cause the disease itself, but what it can do is that it can increase the mortality rate of the fish. Temperatures at 74 degrees Fahrenheit can be utilized to track the virus, and it will allow the necessary testing and quarantining of your fish to observe if they have been exposed or not.

Preventative Measures That Can Be Taken

Depopulation is a great way to prevent the disease, which means the elimination of your whole pet population. As harsh as this may seem, this is the only way to make sure you do not infect your other fish in the pond. Another way to do this is by quarantining. if you buy a new Koi, make sure to quarantine it first before mixing it with your current fish population (for no less than 15 days).

Quarantining your Koi means that they should be totally isolated from anything else. Separate the food, tools and water you use for the quarantined ones. Ensure as well that the tools being used for them won't leave the spot where they should be used. Proper hand washing procedures should be observed in handling your pets and other essential items. If you follow these effective preventative measures will help you protect your fish from catching the virus.