A routine sampling showed the presence of the ISA virus at a Cermaq Chile salmon farming center in the Aysèn Region in Southern Chile, but the company has reported no mortalities.
In a statement emailed to SeafoodSource, Cermaq confirmed the finding at its Rowlet 750 farming site. However, the company said it remains confident its biosafety standards and measures taken due to the detection have kept the fish in good sanitary condition.
The Chilean fisheries service Sernapesca first detected the virus in a routine inspection on 31 July. Sernapesca said that its lab analysis concluded the virus is the HPR 7A variant, although the company said in its statement that testing at a third-party laboratory remains underway and the variant is yet to be confirmed.
Authorities have put control measures in place. Sernapesca National Director Alicia Gallardo said in its statement that control measures are being taken to prevent any potential spread of the disease, even though no mortalities have occurred at the center to date.
ISA infections have dogged the Chilean industry for years, including a major outbreak in 2008 that led to heavy industry losses. However, after reforms, it has been able to avoid large-scale outbreaks since then. Cermaq’s Chile operation last reported an outbreak of the virus in December 2016, but it was limited to one farming center.
Sernapesca said it will enact a campaign in the area surrounding the farming site and increase the frequency of inspections.
