News

Rabies has been detected in a polar fox on Hopen, an island in the Svalbard archipelago.

From the16th to the 20th April 2018, Norway's Science and Higher Education Minister Iselin Nybø led probably the largest ever official Norwegian delegation to China, with a focus on Science and Education. More than 200 researchers, rectors of Norwegian universities and Institute directors participated in this five-day tour to Beijing and Shanghai. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI) was part of this visit, and before summarizing the visit, it is perhaps important to quickly recapitulate…. Why China? Why now?

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has designated the Norwegian Veterinary Institute as the third reference laboratory for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the world, and the first one in Europe. Senior researcher Sylvie Benestad has been designated as the expert, responsible for the new reference laboratory. OIE has previously appointed laboratories in Canada and South Korea.

Recently, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI) detected Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in one of the last remaining reindeer in the area of Nordfjella, Zone 1. This was the 18th case of CWD in wild reindeer in Norway, and might also be the last now that nearly all wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in this region have been culled.

The Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira) has detected Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a 15-year-old moose in Kuhmo in eastern Finland, near the Russian border. This is the first detection of CWD in Finland and the first case within the EU. Further analysis made by the EU Reference Laboratory, APHA, suggest that the case is different from the infectious CWD type that is prevalent in North America.

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute has tested over 34,000 cervids for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) during the last 18 months.

Surveillance and eradication efforts towards Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Norwegian free-ranging reindeer proceeds. Around 700 animals were killed during the 2017 hunting season, leaving some 1500 animals to be handled by professionals.

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) presented a report this 29th of March on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Norway, in which they recommended the culling of the reindeer herd in the region of Nordfjella, an inland mountain area in southern Norway.

Gaute Lenvik (46) has been appointed the new managing director at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI). Lenvik took over the position on February 1st. He was previously director of analysis and politics in Food Drink Norway at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises (NHO).

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI) has diagnosed Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in two moose (Alces alces) in Norway. This is the first detection of CWD in moose in Europe. The disease, well known in North America, was detected for the first time in Europe in a wild Norwegian reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in April 2016.