New technology may prevent repeat Ebola crisis
Rapid testing of patients and fast genetic analysis of viruses could help experts to handle emergency situations more effectively as they unfold.
New technology could enable a better response to infectious disease outbreaks like Ebola in the future, a study by the University of Edinburgh has found.
The research, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, highlights failings in the response to Ebola and the need to adopt state-of-the-art techniques to detect and monitor potential infectious disease outbreaks anywhere in the world.
Experts say that the Ebola crisis has emphasised the need to strengthen global surveillance and enhance the capability to react appropriately to further outbreaks.
This should include making use of modern technologies for detecting disease, sharing information in real time and analysing data.
"We cannot afford to wait for the next outbreak of infectious disease before putting effective systems in place to safeguard public health," said Professor Mark Woolhouse, of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution.
"Global surveillance would be costly, but in our highly connected world, early detection and rapid action against outbreaks are to everyone's benefit," he adds.
The researchers found that technological advances such as rapid testing of patients and fast genetic analysis of viruses could help experts to handle emergency situations more effectively as they unfold, therefore saving more lives.
They say that such tools are already available and should be brought into public health planning around the world to combat future disease outbreaks.
Professor Paul Kellam, group leader of virus genomics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: "Real-time analysis of virus genomes such as Ebola is an important addition to our toolkit for investigating disease outbreaks.
"When combined with the date and location of the sample, we can determine how the virus spreads. These technologies can improve the management of an outbreak, thereby saving lives."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
