WINNIPEG, July 31, 2006 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) today announced
that its National Centre for Foreign Animal
Disease (NCFAD) in Winnipeg has been designated as a Reference Laboratory for Avian
Influenza and for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE), during its recently concluded 74th General Session. Dr. John Pasick,
Head, Classical Swine Fever and Avian Diseases Unit, has been designated by the OIE as the
lab's Expert for avian influenza, and Dr. Stefanie Czub, Head, Pathology, has been
designated as the Expert for BSE.
"This recognition by a well-respected international organization highlights the
scientific expertise that has been brought together in Winnipeg to protect Canadian
agriculture and Canadians," said Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Chuck Strahl.
"I congratulate the NCFAD, and especially Dr. Czub and Dr. Pasick, for this
acknowledgement of their work, competency and achievements."
A lab designated as a Reference Laboratory by the OIE functions as a centre of
expertise and standardization for a particular disease or topic; develops new procedures
for its diagnosis and control; provides scientific and technical training for scientific
personnel from other OIE member countries; coordinates scientific and technical research,
in collaboration with other labs; and provides diagnostic testing and surge capacity to
other countries, among other functions. A designation of a lab for a disease always
includes the designation of a scientist at the lab as an Expert for that disease.
The NCFAD, together with the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health
Agency of Canada, forms part of the Canadian Science
Centre for Human and Animal Health. This unique facility is the only one in the world
that brings together high biocontainment level laboratories for both human and animal
diseases. This is an important advantage when researching and diagnosing diseases, such as
avian influenza and BSE, that can threaten both human and animal health.
The scientific expertise in Canada's federal, provincial, academic and private
animal health laboratories is widely recognized internationally, most notably by the OIE.
The designations announced today bring to 17 the number of Reference Laboratories and
Collaborating Centres located in Canada. Of these, 13 are part of the CFIA's
laboratory system, one resides within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, two are located in
Veterinary Colleges, and one is a private laboratory.
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For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations
613-228-6682
Fact sheets:
National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease
(NCFAD)
Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal
Health (CSCHAH)
