COMMENT ON REPORTS OF INFECTIOUS SALMON ANAEMIA VIRUS FOUND IN SHETLAND     Print Article

Posted on: 5/1/2009

Fisheries Research Services (FRS) Inspectors have found evidence of the Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) virus in a salmon farm in Shetland, with no clinical outbreak.

As a result of the finding, FRS are now operating control procedures set out in the Code of Practice to Avoid and Minimise the Impact of ISA, which was written jointly by Scottish Government officials and the salmon farming industry in 2000.

It is important to note two key points:

1. The presence of the virus does not mean that clinical disease is present, and indeed, fish tested from the farm site did not show any clinical symptoms of disease.  This can be likened to humans carrying bacteria but not contracting any illness from them.  However, FRS are bound to take action as a precaution.

2. ISA is specific to fish and does not pose any risk whatsoever to humans.

The Scottish salmon farming industry has been free of ISA since May 1999 and has an excellent protocol in the Code of Practice for managing this current situation.  The industry will work closely with the key authorities to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Scott Landsburgh, Chief Executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation said,

“Of course this news is a concern, but we are confident that we can manage the situation quickly and effectively alongside the Fisheries Research Services inspectors. The Scottish industry has a good, internationally recognised, record in fish health and welfare and it is very important to us that we get back on track as quickly as possible.”

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