Covert mortality nodavirus (CmNV) is a nodavirus infecting whiteleg shrimp which has been a major threat to the monoculture shrimp industry of long standing. In a novel example of zoonosis, it has become the cause of an emerging eye disease: persistent ocular hypertensive viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU), a new type of retinopathy. In this wise it has become a major public health concern in aquaculture.