A method of increasing the survival of animals and aquatic species susceptible to birnavirus infection by treating them before, during and/or after birnavirus exposure, with a chemical compound capable of inhibiting viral replication. A method of treating aquatic species to increase their survival in the presence of a virus, particularly an aquatic birnavirus, and to increase the yield of farmed fish susceptible to viral infection. The present invention provides methods for increasing survival of virally-exposed aquatic animals by administering therapeutically effective amounts of isoxazol compounds to aquatic animals susceptible to birnavirus infection and/or IPNV infection, particularly in fish such as salmonoid species, which are easily exposed to IPNV. The present invention also provides methods for increasing survival of virally-exposed animals by administering therapeutically effective amounts of isoxazol compounds to farmed animals susceptible to birnavirus infection and/or IBDV infection, particularly in poultry such as chickens, which are exposed to IBDV.