Australian prawn farmers are demanding a full inquiry into the arrival of a devastating new virus and any quarantine failings or corrupt activity that let it in the door.

The federal government has suspended imports of raw, or green prawns, after white spot disease was found at five farms near the Logan River in south-east Queensland, and in wild prawns in the river itself.

A fifth farm has tested positive for white sport disease in the Logan River. Credit:Biosecurity Queensland

Farmers strongly suspect the virus hitched a ride to Australia with consignments imported from infection zones overseas, but the source of the outbreak is yet to be proven.

The government, however, last week revealed it was pursuing criminal charges against at least one importer alleged to have deliberately flouted testing regimes designed to keep Australia free of white spot.