Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia cases confirmed in Ontario
Ottawa, August 22, 2007— The Government of Canada today announced that the
Great Lakes strain of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia has been detected in fish
from Hamilton Harbour and the Thames River in Ontario. These two findings mark
the first detections of the disease in 2007 in Canada.
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia is an infectious viral disease that can cause
illness and death in fish, but does not affect human health. Fish were initially
tested by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the University of Guelph
before Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia was confirmed by the Department of Fisheries
and Oceans.
These findings fall within the Ontario ministry’s identified management zone
for the disease. Therefore, no changes are planned to existing Ontario live fish
movement controls implemented in early 2007. Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia has
been detected in the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes basin since 2005.
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with the Provinces of Ontario and
Quebec, is currently conducting a surveillance program to better understand the
geographic distribution of the virus and affected species. To date, fish from
six sites in Ontario and Quebec have been tested, and no additional cases of
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia have been detected. The results of this program,
once analyzed, will help guide actions that federal and provincial governments
may take to further manage the disease.
A similar, complementary surveillance program is also underway in the United
States to provide a complete picture of the presence of Viral Hemorrhagic
Septicemia in the Great Lakes basin.
A full report of 2007 Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia findings from the joint
federal-provincial surveillance program will be released in the fall. This
program is expected to continue for the next two years. two provinces will
continue to collect fish in the fall of 2007 with the collaboration of the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources will
continue to collect additional samples with provincial funding from the
Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.
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For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: 613-228-6682 |
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Media relations: 416-314-2106 |
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Media relations: 613-993-5413 |
Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec
Media relations : 418- 627-8609 x 3010 |
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