OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The Government of Canada in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia has completed testing all samples related to the suspected infectious salmon anaemia investigation in BC. Based on the final results, there are no confirmed cases of the disease in wild or farmed salmon in BC.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has also conducted a preliminary review of an industry-led testing program for farmed species. The review found that there has been a significant amount of testing for viral diseases, including infectious salmon anaemia, in farmed fish over the last 10 years.
In recent years, the Government of Canada and the Province of BC have tested over 5000 wild and farmed salmon in BC for infectious salmon anaemia. None have ever tested positive.
Infectious salmon anaemia poses no risk to people. Pacific salmon appear to be resistant to the disease.
Under the CFIA's National Aquatic Animal Health Program, suspected federally reportable diseases, such as infectious salmon anaemia, must be confirmed at the Fisheries and Oceans Canada national reference laboratory.
For more information on infectious salmon anaemia, visit www.inspection.gc.ca/aquatic or call 1-800-442-2342.
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Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
