The avian influenza strain H5N1 has such pandemic potential.  In December 2003, infections in people exposed to sick birds were identified and since then, according to the WHO, there have been over 600 human cases of Avian Influenza, with a mortality rate exceeding 50%.  Fortunately, H5N1 does not easily infect or spread among humans.  However, should H5N1 evolve to a form as contagious as normal influenza, a pandemic could begin.

 

Although vaccination is effective against the spread of infection, the current global vaccination coverage is less than 5% and viral mutation requires constant review of vaccine efficacy.  Consequently the most effective means of controlling the spread of influenza is early diagnosis, followed by containment and antiviral therapy.  However, currently available diagnostics technologies are not suitable for widespread use in developed & developing countries. Rapid antigen-based tests are insensitive and are not designed to specifically identify H5N1 and existing PCR based techniques or microarrays are slow, expensive and require specific laboratory equipment and expertise.  Consequently there is an immediate need for a rapid, robust, sensitive and cost effective point-of-care diagnostic for the identification of influenza strains and subtypes which requires minimal expertise to operate & no specialist laboratory equipment.  RANGER meets this need.

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