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'Quickie' tests for bird flu outbreaks
15 Mar 2004
CSIRO Livestock Industries and the Australian Biosecurity Co-operative Research Centre are developing fast diagnostic tests for the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza. The tests are being developed to protect Australia from an outbreak. Dr Stephen Prowse, CEO of the AB-CRC, said H5N1 kills birds rapidly and can infect humans who come in close contact with infected birds. If the virus reaches Australia rapid diagnostic tests would ensure appropriate control measures are implemented quickly, he said.
Current tests for H5N1 take two to three days but the new tests would reduce this to less than six hours. They will be developed in the microbiologically secure environment of CSIRO Livestock Industries' Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Victoria, and be available by September this year.
Dr Prowse said Australia is well prepared to detect and respond to outbreaks of avian influenza but having the new tests on hand by September is important, as that's when wild birds which are known to carry the virus migrate to Australia from the Northern Hemisphere.
CSIRO Media Release, 9/3/04.
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