Scientists Probe if Herpes Virus is Killing Sardines Off South Africa's Coast The recent mass mortality of sardines along South Africa's west and south coast has left scientists scrambling for answers.
A herpes virus detected in the fish, pilchard herpesvirus (PHV), is now under investigation as a possible culprit.
The presence of PHV in sardines off South African shores marks a significant development, one that may hold the key to understanding this month's unprecedented die off.