The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has reported that out of more than 4,000 samples collected and tested in British Columbia last year, all tested negative for infectious salmon anaemia (ISA).
In 2012, 4,175 wild salmon samples were collected directly from BC waters, processing plants and enhancement hatcheries as part of a surveillance initiative. All of these samples were tested for the ISA virus and either haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) or infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) – and all came back negative.
A variety of salmon species were tested, including those that could carry infection without showing signs of disease. In 2013, this surveillance program is expected to test approximately 5,000 samples.
IHN, IPN and ISA are contagious and can cause disease and mortality in salmon. IHN is known to exist in certain species and populations of wild finfish in BC. IPN and ISA have not been confirmed in the province.
