<i>BAU teacher invents easy device to detect bird flu</i>
Dr Md Alimul Islam
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 low cost device will detect the virus within a few hours, Prof Alimul said, adding that 'per bird per course vaccine' imported 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 report. “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 succumbed to their injuries from 1997 to 2008. H5N1 and H7N3 are most deadly viruses, he said.
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