The world of research

Australian scientists are now collaborating with the world science world to prepare to deal with the next human pandemic.

Scientists from the Australian Agency for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) participated in a US $ 20 million project with scientists from Duke, USA, and University National University of Singapore (Duke-NUS).

Gary Fitt - CSIRO's Director of Biosafety - said: 70% of human illnesses are of animal origin and it is now time to implement a new approach to biosafety.

Scientists are hoping to develop trials that can discover early disease to cope with the spread of disease.

While Australian scientists will focus on research in the field of veterinary medicine, the scientific community at Duke-NUS will provide expertise in the field of medicine.

Dr. Fitt said: Asia is where many new infectious diseases arise so scientists' research will mainly target this area.

He cited the case of bird flu as an example that this influenza virus has significantly affected poultry and humans. He said: "The threat posed by bird flu to poultry and humans is a real threat".

Dr. Fitt also mentioned that a new type of flu outbreak in China is likely to cause many deaths, of which 'about 60% of people infected with this new virus are killed'.

Australian and Duke-NUS scientists are currently working together and conducting research to develop experimental methods that can detect early and rapid detection of diseases such as Hendra-induced diseases. out.

If these tests are developed, scientists at the Australian CSRIO's Scientific and Industrial Research Agency will conduct these new tests at their facility in Geelong, Victoria.