Brazil manufactures equipment to diagnose dengue fever in 15 minutes

According to research published in the Journal of Biological and Electronics Biology on June 9, Brazilian scientists have been studying to create a biosensor device that can quickly detect dengue fever. , thereby helping to create an effective low-cost device to diagnose a disease caused by dengue-borne mosquitoes that spread to millions of people every year.

Cleverton Luiz Pirich, a researcher at the Federal University of Paran, said the group of scientists is aiming to produce a rapid test device for about $ 30 and will result in the analysis of protein samples containing proteins of dengue virus only after 15 minutes.

According to Pirich, the device is not only cheap, helps diagnose diseases quickly but is also very easy to use. In particular, this invention not only helps to identify viruses that cause dengue fever but can also be used to detect many other diseases such as diseases caused by Zika virus.

Aedes aegypt mosquito is the culprit causing dengue.(Source: AP / VNA).

To make this device, scientists have applied a method of coating a thin film of nanocrystals containing bacterial cellulose because it helps effectively detect the protein found in blood samples called NS1 .

Appearing primarily in Latin America and Asia, dengue affects hundreds of millions of people every year and is becoming more and more popular. Usually, it is difficult to diagnose the disease due to symptoms, such as fever, joint pain, similar to some other diseases.

Simple blood test devices used to detect malaria are not currently available in case of dengue outbreaks and no intensive treatment is available to prevent this virus, usually discovered in urban and semi-urban areas.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, from the nine original countries in 1960, dengue has so far spread to more than 100 countries, of which the number of cases has increased from 15,000. 390 million people every year.

According to experts, the increasing movement of people and goods due to globalization, as well as increasingly severe floods due to climate change are the two main reasons for speeding up transmission of dengue fever, thereby causing tremendous economic damage.

The Americas region is estimated to have lost about $ 2.1 billion a year, while Southeast Asian economies lost nearly $ 2.4 billion due to the disease.