Potato rot nematode investigation to include Prince Edward Island

An investigation into how a small Ottawa garlic farm became infested with a pest called potato rot nematode will include Prince Edward Island even though it's highly unlikely it came from there.

P.E.I. is the only province in Canada where the pest has previously been found. But the areas where it appeared have been quarantined since the 1940s. So Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials believe it's not likely that the Ontario infestation came from the Island.

Officials say confirming of the source of the Ontario farm's pests will likely take months, and might not be conclusive.

The garlic farm is not near potato growers or seed producers, so is not a threat to the Ontario potato industry.