Biologists from the Department of Fisheries (DFO) in British Columbia have revealed that more than two decade-old fish samples have tested positive for a wild sockeye fish virus that is potentially life-threatening. Frozen samples dating back to 1986 have been tested positive for Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) and show that this virus has been in the waters of B.C. for at least a quarter century. It was detected by Simon Fraser University Professor Rick Routledge and has put the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the fish farming industry of B.C. on high alert. This has prompted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to create a surveillance program for ISA that could be in place by next spring.
Considering that this disease has been considered lethal is quite scary to me. I have been eating salmon, and other fish for my whole life which is obviously within this 25 year span. Not only have I potentially been eating fish with this harmful virus but I have been swimming in the B.C. waters that are said to be infected as well. It is alarming to know that we have all been exposed to this virus, but the fact that we are just hearing about it now and we haven’t heard of a single case of someone dying from ISA gives me some relief. Hopefully it will stay this way and with more knowledge there will be some protection against it.
Salmon virus in B.C. for decades, say biologists
December 15th, 2011
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