ISA Detected on Fifth Scottish Salmon Farm

In line with the Scottish Government's objective of eradication of outbreaks of ISA, the farm will be depopulated as soon as practicable. This will be done by the farm owners under the supervision of Marine Scotland's Fish Health Inspectors to prevent the spread of the virus.

The controls to contain ISA within the zones established in South West Shetland on January 2 will remain to provide protection for this and other areas of Shetland. As ISA does not affect humans there is no risk to human health, but it can cause serious damage to stocks of farmed Atlantic salmon in seawater. ISA is a notifiable disease under the Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 and it is Scottish Government's policy to attempt eradication where outbreaks are confirmed. Symptoms of ISA in fish include high mortality rates, darkening of the liver, severe anaemia and visceral haemorrhage.

Statutory movement restrictions have been placed on all sites in the control zone centred on the infected farms and in a wider surveillance zone. Other control measures include: Restrictions on movement of dead fish from sites and to killing stations, for all sites in the control and surveillance zone; and Restrictions on movement of personnel and equipment to, from and at sites where there has been a confirmed or suspected case of ISA.

There is no evidence to suggest that ISA virus has spread out of South West Shetland.