Thursday, July 25, 2013

ABC Australian scientists join international fight against the next human pandemic

[previously posted on herehere and here]
Excerpt:
By science and technology correspondent Jake Sturmer, ABC  
Updated July 25, 2013, 2:07 pm
Australian scientists are working with researchers from around the world to pre-empt and prepare for the next human pandemic.
CSIRO researchers have joined a $20 million partnership alongside scientists from the Duke University in the US and the National University of Singapore (Duke-NUS).
The CSIRO's Biosecurity Flagship director Gary Fitt says 70 per cent of new diseases in humans originate in animals and it is time for a new approach to security.

"It's a collaborative centre that will allow us to expand the range of work we do," he said.

"We bring to this partnership fantastic skills in animal health through the Australian Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong.

-snip-

The Australian scientists and Duke-NUS are already working together, with research underway aiming to develop early and rapid detection tests for diseases like the Hendra virus.
If they are developed, CSIRO staff will trial and validate the new tests at the Geelong facility.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/18140258/australian-scientists-join-international-fight-against-the-next-human-pandemic/ 

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