Last week the IHN virus was detected after routine monitoring at one of Mainstream Canada''s Tofino-area farms.
"Unfortunately, our Millar Channel farm has tested positive in qPCR tests for the IHN (Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis) virus," said Fernando Villarroel, the company's managing director. "We are waiting for results from confirmatory tests."
Mainstream Canada has been monitoring its Clayoquot farm sites closely after the Dixon Bay farm experienced an IHN outbreak in May 2012 and was completely emptied as a result. Millar Channel is 6.5km away from Dixon, the nearest farm site. The fish at Millar Channel are small, approximately 400g on average.
On 27 July, Mainstream Canada was notified that the qPCR test results from the Provincial Animal Health Lab showed the presence of the virus at Millar. Following protocols set in place with the Dixon outbreak, the farm site was immediately isolated, and the company is following strict protocols to limit the spread of the virus. CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) has been notified and its investigation will follow.
There is currently no increased fish mortality at the Millar farm and any further actions by the company will be in co-operation with Canadian authorities.
Because of the length of time between the cases, and strict biosecurity measures followed by Mainstream, it is highly unlikely the virus at Millar Channel came from Dixon Bay farm which experienced an outbreak in May. Mainstream Canada says that migrating wild salmon, natural carriers of the virus, are a more likely source.
