How Qld prawns got white spot disease

How raw prawns imported from overseas could spread white spot disease to crustaceans in Australia:

- Raw prawns from overseas are tested before they are released to importers in Australia

- But the tests are not exhaustive, and some infected prawns may not be detected with sample testing

- The virus that causes white spot disease, found on Queensland prawn farms and in a river this month, can survive being frozen

- If infected prawns are used as bait, crustaceans that ingest them could be infected and in turn spread the virus

- Farms could in turn be infected with white spot if diseased prawns or prawn tissue is sucked into growing ponds via water intake pipes.