Released on June 1, 2006
The Province has announced funding of $150,000 over three years for the Disease Investigation Unit at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)."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," WCVM's Large Animal Clinic Professor John Campbell said. "The unit is composed of clinicians – professors and graduate students – who go out to help veterinarians and producers who may encounter unusual disease problems. 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.
"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:
| Scott Brown Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-4031 | Dr. LeeAnn Forsythe Agriculture and Food Regina Phone: (306) 787-6069 |
Professor John Campbell U of S Saskatoon Phone: (306) 966-7158 |