The Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI)
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute is a national biomedical research institute in the fields of animal health, fish health and food safety, whose primary function is supply of independent research based advisory support to the governing authorities.
Preparedness, diagnostics, surveillance and monitoring, reference- and scientific advisory functions, and risk assessment are the most important areas of operation. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute has its central laboratory in Oslo, with regional laboratories located in the cities of Sandnes, Bergen, Trondheim, Harstad and Tromsø.
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute is a governmental agency, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and the Norwegian Research Council. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food owns properties and buildings from which the Norwegian Veterinary Institute operates, while the Norwegian Veterinary Institute has responsibility for maintenance. The buildings are in good condition and the laboratories modern.
The institute’s products and services are research results and reports, analyses and diagnostics, scientific evaluations and advices within the main fields of operation.
Highlights
New managing director at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute
Gaute Lenvik (46) has been appointed the new managing director at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. Lenvik took over the position on February 1st. He comes from the position as director of analysis and politics in Food Drink Norway at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprises (NHO).
Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease in two Norwegian moose
The Norwegian Veterinary Institute 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.
Ambitious control strategy of LA-MRSA in Norway
The emergence of livestock associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (LA-MRSA) aureus has in many parts of Europe and the world made farm animals a reservoir for transmission to other farms and humans. When LA-MRSA recently emerged in the Norwegian pig population, this prompted a coordinated national strategy aimed at preventing the pig population becoming a persistent domestic LA-MRSA reservoir with risk of further dissemination to the human population.