Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - The British Health Protection Agency HPA recently revealed that it has carried out tests to diagnose bird flu. In the past 12 months at least 25 people in Asia died of bird flu and some 200 million infected poultry were suppressed. At present the disease cannot be passed from human to human but experts fear that sooner or later the virus will change and acquire this capacity.
The first test developed by the HPA was a rapid examination based on the reaction to a chain of enzymes which in a few hours shows whether a person is infected, with the same method used to identify SARS. The second test show whether a person has been exposed to bird flu by measuring the response produced by anti-bodies and it could be useful for developing vaccines. (AP) (22/9/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:14 Parole:152)
