Australian researchers design portable diagnostic system to identify bird flu in a human sample with

	Tweet

Researchers at Westmead Millennium Institute are conducting urgent research into bird flu.

Avian Influenza (commonly known as bird flu) poses a serious threat to global health with experts predicting it could seriously affect millions of people worldwide.

In response to the urgent need for knowledge about this virulent flu strain, researchers at Westmead Millennium Institute (WMI) are investigating ways of rapidly and accurately detecting the virus whilst monitoring it’s spread in human populations.

Prof Jon Iredell and his team are creating a portable diagnostic system that can identify the presence of bird flu in a human sample within 2 hours.

This project has been established in partnership with the University of Sydney and Corbett Research.

“This beauty of this technology is that it is flexible and highly sensitive” explains A/Prof Jon Iredell. “This means it can be adapted to make precise diagnosis in an individual or to test a planeload passengers in a couple of hours”

“We can also use it in hospitals to detect illnesses which mimic or worsen flu and to pick up any flu cases that may be resistant to treatment”.

Researchers at the Centre for Virus Research at WMI are concentrating on the finer detail, using a process they previously developed for the SARS outbreak to quickly identify mutations in the flu virus.

“Viruses can mutate or change quickly. A major mutation in the genetic make-up of the virus may make it more infectious or harder to treat” says Professor Cunningham.

“The new technologies we have developed at the Centre will enable us to identify any changes quickly, so as to prevent spread of a virus that is potentially more infectious or resistant to available antivirals.”

These projects have already begun and are anticipated to be successfully completed in the near future.

http://www.wmi.usyd.edu.au/

RELATED STORIES:
Bird flu pandemic a question of when, not if   Signs of Tamiflu resistance no cause for alarm   What to do about bird flu   Thailand confirms fresh outbreak of H5N1 virus   Australia furthers fight against Avian Influenza in Vietnam   Vietnam confirms 14-year-old girl has bird flu   Battle against deadly bird flu far from won - U.N   USDA closely monitoring bird flu in Indonesia   Stray dog dies of bird flu in Azerbaijan   Health Officials: Flu Virus Peaking In Michigan   Bird flu death toll in Indonesia now up to 48   France reinforces defenses against bird flu

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]