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Posted: Sunday, April 18th, 2004 1:43 PM HST

Kauai shrimp farm quarantined after disease found

By Associated Press

(Lihue-AP) -- A Kauai shrimp farm has been put under state quarantine after some shrimp tested positive for a disease known as White Spot Syndrome Virus. State officials say it's a highly contagious and fatal disease for shrimp and other crustaceans, though it poses no threats to humans, even if they eat infected seafood. The disease has been previously reported in Japan, China, Thailand, Korea, the Philippines and in Central and South America. But it's the first time it's popped up in Hawaii. The state veterinarian, Doctor James Foppoli, says the isolation of the Kauai farm means there's a good chance of containing the outbreak and eradicating the disease.