US importing Indian anthrax 'kits'

Sify News ^ | 12/1/02

[Ranger]

Amid a looming fear of biological attacks, the United States is importing Indian anthrax kits prepared by the Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), which can detect the presence of the disease and make available the required medicines within two hours.

The DRDE has developed kits which can detect anthrax, plague and rat fever in a patient and make available the required medicines within two hours, DRDE's microbiologist Dr H V Batra told UNI.

A team of American scientists had come to test the anthrax kit and have placed an order of 5000 such kits. Of these, 1700 kits had already been sent to America, he said.

Dr Batra said the method to detect rat fever in such a short time has not been invented anywhere else in the world.

''We have left the developed nations behind in this particular matter,'' he said.

Replying to a question he said only the plague kit had been patented. The other kits were also likely to be patented shortly, he added.

Maintaining that the cost of the kits was cheap and varied between Rs 25-30 for each test, he said these kits lasted for around six months.

The DRDE is also preparing new kits which would be able to detect the cause of fever from a drop of blood taken out from a diseased person.

[Ranger]

ping

[Nogbad]

Ping

[Nogbad]

By the way.
I heard on the news a couple of nights ago
that a 'simulated anthrax attack'
(whatever that might be)
recently was carried out
at the University of Arizona.

[aristeides]

I've wondered for some time why we don't import anthrax antitoxin from China and Russia.

[keri]

Yes. It had been planned for a couple of years by the director of the Southern Arizona Emergency Medical Services Council. Sounds like a success, judging from the sound of all the back-clapping going on.

I hate to say this, sorta, because any drill is better than none, but I'd be a lot more impressed with this drill if had involved a more challenging scenario in a different city. Say, a crop-duster or balloon dispensing anthrax spores over Denver. We might be able to get by a couple of thousand exposed people without panicking, but how about a million or so?

[Mitchell]

Doing a simulation like this is better than nothing, but it can't duplicate the panic and other emotion that might be associated with a real attack, and it also ignores any possible associated events (other simultaneous attacks, including possible disruption of the communications infrastructure or the power grid; people's personal concerns about the lives of their families; economic concerns as the stock market tanks; etc.).

Preparation is always a good idea, but war is one surprise after another, and it's a serious mistake if those in authority forget that.

[tallhappy]

Thanks for the ping. I'd like to hear more about how the kit detects the pathogens.

[Fred Mertz]

How much does each kit cost?

[Medium Rare]

The price was quoted at 25-30 rupees per test. The Rupee closed at about 48 to the dollar last Friday. That would make the cost per test between 52 and 63 cents.

[Fred Mertz]

I'll take a dozen. Thanks for the feedback.