BAKKAFROST: Test results during the last week have not confirmed the suspicion of pathogenic ISA virus at A-73 Hvannasund Norður

On 14 July 2016, Bakkafrost announced that the Veterinary Authority got suspicion of pathogenic ISA virus at Bakkafrost’s farming site A-73 Hvannasund Norður, after a routine surveillance test.

ISA virus is a virus, which can hit salmon and some other species of fish. The virus exists as a none-pathogenic variant, which is called ISA HPR-0, and as a pathogenic variant, which is called ISA HPR-del. PCR-analyses indicated that the pathogenic ISA virus variant, HPR-del, was present at the farming site A-73 Hvannasund Norður.

During the last week, the Veterinary Authority has undertaken two extensive tests at the farming site with the purpose of confirming the suspicion of pathogenic ISA virus. The results from these tests have all been negative and do not prove the presence of pathogenic ISA virus. The Veterinary Authority has affirmed that the virus, which was indicated present, is a variant that is not very virulent, and this may be a possible explanation to the difficulty in finding the virus again.

The farming site has not had any signs of disease and the biological performance has been good, both before the routine surveillance test by the Veterinary Authority and during the last week; no unusual mortality has occurred.

Since the suspicion arose, the purpose of further tests has been to confirm the suspicion of pathogenic ISA virus. As the tests do not confirm the suspicion, the Veterinary Authority will have increased surveillance for the coming period at the farming site and will also carry out extra tests on neighbouring farming sites. This procedure is stipulated in Announcement No. 19 from 14 March 2005 about Defeating and Surveillance of ISA (Infectious Salmon Anaemia), which has the purpose of securing and maintaining good biology in the Faroese farming industry.

Contacts:

Regin Jacobsen, CEO of P/F Bakkafrost: +298 23 50 01 (mobile)

Gunnar Nielsen, CFO of P/F Bakkafrost: +298 23 50 60 (mobile)

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

About Bakkafrost:

Bakkafrost is the largest salmon farmer in the Faroe Islands. The Group is fully integrated from feed production to smolt, farming, VAP and sales. The Group has production of fishmeal, fish oil and salmon feed in Fuglafjørður. The Group operates licenses on 14 farming fjords. The Group has primary processing in Klaksvík, Strendur, Kollafjørður, and secondary processing (VAP) in Glyvrar and Fuglafjørður. The headquarter is located in Glyvrar, and the company has a total of around 725 full-time employees.

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