BAU teacher invents easy device to detect bird flu
Science & Technolgy
Saturday July 19 2008 11:34:03 AM BDT
Aminul Islam, Mymensingh
A scientist at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has developed a
cheap and easy device for detection of avian influenza (bird flu). The
inventor, Dr Md Alimul Islam, a professor of Microbiology and Hygiene
Department of BAU Veterinary Science Faculty, said the bird flu virus has
been isolated and it is possible to go for production of its vaccine if
they
get patronisation from the government.(The Daily Star )
The low cost device will detect the virus within a few hours, Prof Alimul
said, adding that 'per bird per course vaccine' im****ted from foreign
countries costs Tk 100 while it will cost only Tk 30 to 40 if it is
produced
in the country.
He expressed hope that the new method of bird flu detection and consequent
production of low cost vaccines will help to save the promising poultry
sector as well as the people related with it.
He conducted his research at the laboratory of F n F Pharmaceuticals in
Jhenaidah for a year to develop the 'Molecular Detection Method' as BAU
has
no laboratory with adequate facilities for such research.
For detecting bird flu, the samples are tested at Savar in Dhaka and for
confirmation of the infection, the samples are generally sent to National
Institute of Animal Health in Thailand and Way Bridge in England and it
takes several days to receive the re****t.
"Although 229 farms were detected with H5 virus positive in 48 districts
of
the country during the last several months, chickens of 474 farms were
culled on suspicion due to lack of proper detection system. Farm owners
faced a loss of Tk 4,500 crore. Tk 10,000 crore was invested in this
growing
sector," he said.
He collected dead crows from Barishal and Patuakhali this year but avian
influenza virus was not found in them. The crows might be victims of
poisonous food, he added.
There are three types (types A, B and C) of influenza virus and avian
influenza belongs to type A that has 25 sub-type viruses under HA (Hem
agglutinin) and NA (Neuraminidase) categories, said Dr Alimul.
He said 374 people were affected by H5N1 virus and 240 of them suc***bed
to
their injuries from 1997 to 2008. H5N1 and H7N3 are most deadly viruses,
he
said.
The Daily Star
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