By The Canadian Press

Province funds lab to study whirling disease

Jun 22, 2017 | 4:41 PM

VEGREVILLE, Alta. – A potentially deadly fish disease observed in Alberta last year will be studied at a new lab dedicated to preventing further spread of the parasite that causes it.

The lab in Vegreville is believed to be the first in Canada exclusively dedicated to testing for and preventing whirling disease.

The disease is not harmful to humans, but causes trout and whitefish to swim in a whirling pattern and die prematurely.

Whirling disease was first observed last summer in several Banff National Park lakes.

It has since spread into the Oldman, Bow and Red Deer river basins.

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The lab in Vegreville will have six full-time technicians to process samples for expedited testing at the University of Alberta.

(The Canadian Press)