I am very sorry to inform you that the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE), the political organization made up of 178 international animal health bureaucrats, has voted to remove the “reference lab” status from the lab I am using in Canada to research European salmon viruses. This was predicted by lawyer Greg McDade a year and half ago in the Cohen Commission. It was that obvious a course of action.
I find this appalling. I feel it is in the best interests of the people of the eastern North Pacific, that the research underway by the Kibenge lab be allowed to continue so that the findings are published in peer-reviewed journals and judged by scientists, not just bureaucrats. It is my view we have a limited window of opportunity to stop ISA virus from going epidemic here as it has elsewhere, including eastern Canada currently.
Unless people speak up now, I feel certain the heavy hand of government will suppress this work entirely. The lab is currently still operating, but I think it needs our support.
Please note the action items at the end of this blog and thank you to the First Nation communities that have already written to Canada and the OIE making it clear they have samples in the Kibenge lab that they expect to be fully processed and reported on.
http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/alexandra_morton
Alexandra Morton
Broughton Archipaligo
