AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROVIDES FUNDING FOR U OF S DISEASE INVESTIGATION UNIT

Released on February 7, 2006

The Province has announced funding of $30,000 for the Disease Investigation Unit at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

The funding will cover some of the costs of laboratory analysis.

"This funding helps Canada to meet its international trade and animal health obligations, because the Disease Investigation Unit is involved with the early detection of emerging diseases and foreign animal diseases," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "The unit's work helps to protect Saskatchewan's agricultural economy and our market access, and contributes to food safety here at home and around the world."

Wartman said the WCVM's Disease Investigation Unit works closely with the Animal Health Unit of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

"This co-operation ensures that the department is aware of any unusual disease developments in the province," Wartman said.

The WCVM's Disease Investigation Unit has been in place at the University of Saskatchewan for about 20 years, according to Professor John Campbell of the WCVM's Large Animal Clinic. Campbell specializes in epidemiology, the study of disease outbreaks.

"The unit is composed of clinicians – professors and graduate students – who go out to help veterinarians and producers who may have unusual disease problems," Campbell said. "We have broad expertise available here at the university and we use it to provide support to Saskatchewan's veterinarians."

Many of the clinicians have training or experience in epidemiology, and they have available to them the Prairie Diagnostic Service laboratories and the faculty expertise of the WCVM, Campbell said.

"Local veterinarians are the first line of surveillance for disease – and if they find a puzzling problem, they can call on us," Campbell said.

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For More Information, Contact:

Trish Alcorn Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306)787-5389	Dr. LeeAnn Forsythe Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306)787-6069
Professor John Campbell U of S Saskatoon Phone: (306)966-7158