NOTE TO EDITORS

December 8, 2008

International public health experts are in Winnipeg this week to discuss the latest advances in diagnosing viral hemorrhagic fevers which have the potential to threaten global public health and to get a hands-on look at mobile laboratory equipment deployed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) during an outbreak response.

These workshops, hosted by PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory, are part of Canada’s commitment to the Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI), an informal, international partnership to strengthen public health preparedness and response globally. The workshops provide a forum for partnering countries to share knowledge and expertise on potential threats to global public health and outbreak response capabilities. GHSI-member countries include Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Canada is an active and leading member of the Global Health Security Action Group, an international body of health officials from GHSI-member countries that deals with health and security issues. PHAC co-chairs the Risk Management and Communications Working Group, the Laboratory Network and the Communicators Network.

The Public Health Agency of Canada was established in 2004 to help Canadians achieve better health and well-being through the prevention of chronic disease and injury, promotion of good health, and protection from infectious diseases and other major health threats. PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory is Canada’s leading public health infectious disease laboratory responsible for the identification, control and prevention of infectious diseases. For more information about PHAC, please visit: www.publichealth.gc.ca

For interview opportunities, media may contact:

Renée Robert
PHAC Communications
Tel: (204) 784-8094