MONTREAL (CP) - An internationally recognized expert on the HIV virus says a better job needs to be done to fight the rising rate of infections among Canada's natives.
Dr. Mark Wainberg says 15 to 20 per cent of all new infections in Canada are occurring among members of the country's Aboriginal Peoples.
He says a disproportionate number of natives continue to be infected by the virus that leads to AIDS.
Wainberg made his comments today at the opening of a new $5-million high-security laboratory at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital.
The bio-containment lab, one of only a few such facilities approved by Health Canada, will be used to grow the HIV virus and test tissue samples to determine how patients respond to various types of medication.
A total of 83 people have been trained to work in the lab including five students from African nations.