Monday December 9, 2024
CBC —
The B.C. government says it has detected more cases of a parasite that Parks Canada describes as potentially devastating to young trout and salmon.
The provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says three trout samples from the southern arm of Kootenay Lake have tested positive for Myxobolus cerebralis, the parasite that causes whirling disease.
The first case of the parasite in B.C. waters was found in September 2023 in Yoho National Park’s Emerald Lake, which prompted the closure of nearby waterways as officials looked to stop the spread.
The province says it is not sure if the new cases in Kootenay Lake are linked to Yoho National Park, and biologists are testing more samples from this year in the ongoing investigation.