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CFIA declares Bow River infected with whirling disease

Feb 10, 2017 | 1:35 PM

ALBERTA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has declared the Bow River watershed infected with whirling disease.

The announcement covers all streams, creeks, lakes and rivers that feed into the Bow River. The affected zone ends where the Bow River merges into the South Saskatchewan River, near Bow Island.

In a news release, the government said there are currently no plans to make changes that will affect fishing in the Bow River.

In Alberta, rainbow, westslope cutthroat and brook trout, as well as mountain whitefish are most susceptible to the disease.

Affected fish may show no symptoms or may exhibit odd behaviour, such as a whirling swimming pattern.

They may also have differences in their appearance, such as skeletal deformities of the body or head. The fish may have a dark or black tail.

There are no health concerns for people using the bodies of water that contain whirling disease as it is not harmful to humans.

There are also no health concerns for anglers ingesting fish that have contracted this disease.

For more information click HERE.