Hanoi (VNA) - A rapidlyspreading disease called yellow-band is killing corals over vast stretches of Thailand’s sea floor, andscientists fear it may be getting worse because of climate change.

Yellow-band disease, named for the colour it turns coralsbefore destroying them, was first spotted decades ago and has caused widespreaddamage to reefs in the Caribbean. There is no known cure.

It was detected for the first time off Thailand's easterncoast last year, near the popular tourist city of Pattaya, and has alreadyspread over roughly 240 hectares of the sea.

Marinescientist Lalita Putchim of Thailand's Department of Marine and CoastalResources said she hasn't seen anything like this before, and that when the coral is infected with this disease, it justdies.

The loss of corals could have a devastating impact on theecosystem as the reef is like a forest, sustaining massive amounts of life, andits death could eventually impact humans too.

Scientists believe overfishing, pollution, and rising watertemperatures because of climate change may be making the reefs more vulnerableto yellow-band disease.

The disease's impact cannot be reversed, unlike the effectsof coral bleaching.

Thai scientists are hoping their investigation into thisoutbreak will help find a way to stop or cure yellow-band disease./.