IAEA uses nuclear technology against H5N1 virus

Experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have deployed nuclear technology to determine the spread of highly virulent H5N1 virus and the risk of rapid infection with the scientific name HPAIV-H5N1 through through early diagnosis tools and measurement of stable radioisotope ratios in migratory birds.

On December 21, the Director of the Joint Program of the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on nuclear technology in agriculture and food, Gerrit Viljoen, said the great advantage of nuclear technologies was It is possible to detect the presence of a virus even though there is only a very small amount of their RNA molecule in the sample without waiting until a large number of birds or people are infected. As a result, health authorities can react very quickly and quickly to prevent the virus from spreading before it's too late.

HPAIV-H5N1 virus has the ability to infect very quickly and especially very powerful in humans, causing 60-70% death of infected people. The virus comes mainly from infected birds and people through contact with birds or infected items, eating uninfected bird meat, eggs or blood.

Nuclear diagnostic technologies can help curb the spread of viruses and prevent outbreaks from causing serious consequences.

Multidisciplinary approaches to quickly and quickly diagnose the spread of HPAIV-H5N1, using molecular technology and analyzing stable radioactive isotopes to identify migratory birds' pathways will contribute to the discovery. Rapid spread of the virus before the virus infects other birds or to humans.

IAEA experts also developed new nuclear technologies to enhance the tracking and analysis of bird migration. Analyzing the percentage of radioactive isotopes in water and food samples in different geographic areas, IAEA experts can determine bird migration routes.

These are extremely important information because when a number of birds are infected with HPAIV-H5N1 virus and quickly identify their migratory pathways, adequate and appropriate preventive measures will be effective soon. Very high results to avoid spreading this strain to humans as well as local wild birds and poultry species.

The IAEA stressed that the nuclear technology developed by the IAEA virus against HPAIV-H5N1 could also be used effectively for other diseases such as hand-foot-mouth disease, rabies, and diseases with infectious agents. coincide.

Nuclear technology is a fast and effective forensic tool that enhances the capacity of countries to prevent, control and treat dangerous diseases caused by wild animal pathogens.