H5N1 avian flu virus: important topic at Analytica

One of the key topics at this year's Analytica will be products, solutions and processes that help to quickly and effectively prevent the spread of avian flu

According to a survey of Analytica exhibitors, several companies will have products on display that can help to fight the avian flu epidemic.

Being able to identify the H5N1 virus in animal cadavers quickly, thoroughly and reliably is essential when it comes to immediately localizing, isolating and decontaminating the center of an epidemic.

Extensive precautions and protective measures are necessary for everyone involved in recovering and transporting the animals to the laboratories.

Special protective clothing, masks, disinfection agents and decontamination systems will ensure that people do not come into contact with the virus, inhale it or pass it on to others.

Any equipment and means of transportation that are used and might be contaminated with the virus must be completely disinfected.

The virus exists in concentrated form, especially in bird excrement and in respiratory tract secretions.

Laboratory work with maximum safety.

Employee safety has top priority in laboratories.

Direct contact with infected animals or contaminated specimens must be avoided.

So-called safety cabinets, sterilizers and sample-processing systems designed especially for epidemic analysis ensure that people do not come into contact with the virus at any time - be it in the air or through contact with sample materials.

Furthermore, laboratories that are set up for virology tests or epidemic analysis are very well equipped and prepared.

The primary issue here is speed.

The sooner a concrete suspected case is discovered, the sooner simultaneous disaster-control measures can be taken if the disease is confirmed, such as isolating the location where the dead animal was found.

The results of molecular-biological quick tests are available after some 30 to 60 minutes.

Several steps are necessary before the final analysis results are available and the public can be informed.

For this reason, it can take days from the time the animal arrives at the laboratory until the final results are available.

Based on a survey of exhibitors, the exhibits on display at Analytica will include a number of testing technologies, complete systems, reagents and equipment for homogenates that are helpful when working in laboratories and, above all, that make it possible to detect the virus in cadavers quickly and efficiently.

In the event of a pandemic, test systems are needed that are capable of isolating a large number of samples and then identify the type of virus.

There are hundreds of different subtypes of the avian-flu virus, most of which are harmless.

The H5N1 virus strain is one of the most aggressive and highly pathogenic viruses.

Hot topic: Battling mutation with the aid of global networks Scientists, research institutes, doctors and the pharmaceutical industry are also devoting a great deal of attention to the mutation, ie, genetic alteration, of the H5N1 virus.

Its genotype has changed several times since 1997.

Whether a subtype of the H5N1 virus or a super-virus hybrid (cross between the avian flu virus and a human flu virus) is created is extremely important, especially for developing vaccinations and medications.

Microbiological analysis plays a key role here because influenza A viruses change their genome constantly and are no longer recognized by the body's immune system.

Quick and precise analysis methods are the first step in the race against the virus.

After that, large-scale research projects for developing possible treatments are just as important.

To efficiently test the effectiveness of entire libraries of active ingredients as quickly as possible, the corresponding virus DNAs are replicated synthetically.

How quickly they actually succeed may depend on the distribution of labour within the international scientific community.

After all, given the complexity of an epidemic, cooperation among experts, research institutes and political decision-makers at the international level is essential.

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