The Asia Regional Advisory Group on Aquatic Animal Health meets annually to discuss regional disease issues including emerging disease threats. This is the report of the fifth meeting, held 22-24 November 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. The report discusses emerging disease problems and regional response to:

• Finfish diseases: Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio sp., Streptococcus dsygalactiae, S. agalactiae and S. iniae, Francisella, loss of mucus and septicemia syndrome, Tenacibaculum maritimum, Nocardia seriolae, Flavocacterium columnare.
• Crustacean diseases: Taura syndrome virus, infectious myonecrosis virus, monodon slow growth agent, tegumental gland associated virus, Laem Singh virus, bamboo shrimp syndrome, rickettsia
• Mollusc diseases: Marteiliosis in cultured green mussel Perna viridis.

Other issues discussed included:

• Outcomes from the OIE General Session and Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission meetings in 2006.
• Lessons learned from the introduction of Penaeus vannamei to the region.
• Review of the Quarterly Aquatic Animal Disease Reporting System, including development of criteria for inclusion of agents on the list of reportable diseases.
• Progress in implementation of the the Regional Technical Guidelines on Health management for the Responsible Movement of Live Aquatic Animals.
• Identification and designation of regional aquatic animal health resources, including experts, centres and reference laboratories.
• Regional and international collaboration.