Fwd: <AusQueer> AUIS.: Instant test for hepatitis.

[Guest guest]

Note: Forwarded message attached

-- Orignal Message --

From: Graham Underhill <graham-u@...>

(Recipient list suppressed)

Subject: <AusQueer> AUIS.: Instant test for hepatitis.

Geoff Heaviside

Brimbank Community Initiatives Inc

A Social Justice & Welfare Service Agency

P.O. Box 606

SUNSHINE 3020 Australia

Ph: +61 3 9449 1856 - Local (03) 9449 1856

Cell +61418328278 - Local 0418 328 278

INDIA

Geoff Heaviside

T.Nagar 600017

Chennai India

Cell 9840 097 178

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.

Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesti

SOURCE:

Sunday Herald Sun newspaper,

19th October, 2003.

P O Box 14634

Melbourne City Mail Centre

, 8001 Australia

Fax.: +61-3-9292-2080

E-mail: mailto:shsletters@...

http://www.sundayheraldsun.com.au

Instant test for hepatitis

ROBIN RILEY.

MELBOURNE scientists have developed a world-first instant test for hepatitis.

The breakthrough means patients will no longer have to wait up to 48 hours

for blood-test results to find out if they have the potentially deadly

liver virus.

The rapid diagnostic kit is 98 per cent accurate and allows doctors to give

instant results on hepatitis E, A and C.

A team from the Burnet Institute in Melbourne worked for a decade on

developing the test. " We concentrated on hepatitis E because there were no

reasonable diagnostic assays (tests), " Professor said.

The institute's deputy director, Professor said the breakthrough

allowed his team to develop similar quick tests for the more common

hepatitis C and A.

He said it was an important breakthrough because people with hepatitis

could now be warned early to prevent spreading the infection.

" Especially people with hepatitis A, " Professor said.

" For instance, they should not be handling food. "

He said the disease could spread quickly.

" Then you have an outbreak happening. That happens in Melbourne

periodically, " he said.

" With this rapid test, doctors will have a result straight away and these

outbreaks can be better controlled. "

Hepatitis E is rare in Australia, but considered a health threat for

travellers.

It is usually acquired from infected water and most often affects young people.

About 170 million people are infected with hepatitis C, a major cause of

liver failure.

Doctors have warned this virus, which can be transmitted sexually, could

have a bigger effect on health services than HIV.

There are 1.5 million new cases of hepatitis A diagnosed a year and

thousands more people are vaccinated against it because a rapid test had

not available.

Professor said the discovery by the Burnet Institute may lead to

more effective treatments, even a cure, for viruses such as HIV, malaria,

tuberculosis and measles. The hepatitis E breakthrough will be seen

internationally as another n science success story.

• On the Net:

Macfarlane Burnet Istitute.

http://www.burnet.edu.au

..

----------

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. AVG Anti-Virus Scan.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.524 / Virus Database: 321 - Release Date: 6/10/2003