Each of the more than 4,000 wild salmon samples collected as part of a 2012 disease surveillance program in B.C. have tested negative for infectious salmon anaemia (ISA).
Led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the surveillance initiative collected 4,175 wild salmon samples from B.C. waters, hatcheries and processing plants.
In addition to testing for ISA, the samples were also examined for infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Those tests also proved negative.
Each disease has been found in Canadian salmon, but only IHN has been recorded in B.C. The diseases are contagious and can kill salmon.
The CFIA partnered with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the B.C. government and First Nations groups, among other, to carry out the initiative.
The CFIA is currently completing an evaluation of B.C. farmed salmon. Information from that project is expected in the fall.
In 2013, another surveillance program is expected. It will test approximately 5,000 wild salmon.
