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China develops instant diagnostic method for possible H1N1 virus

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-30 22:45

BEIJING -- China has developed an effective method for the instant diagnosis of possible H1N1 influenza epidemic (swine flu), said Health Minister Chen Zhu at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

The new detection method will be installed at the country's center for disease control and prevention offices at all levels, Chen said.

Full coverage:  Swine Flu Outbreak Related readings:  Researchers race to develop swine flu vaccine  China steps up efforts against swine flu  China gears up to ward off swine flu

Experts and scientists from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences have contributed greatly to the research work, Chen added.

"Experts from the United States and the World Health Organization (WHO) also gave us great help in research," he said.

The method is a testing chemical reagent, and it will be provided to local CDC offices as soon as possible, a Health Ministry official told Xinhua.

As soon as China got the warning from the WHO about the possible worldwide outbreak of the disease, research work began for an effective diagnostic method for quick detection, Chen said.

As for the vaccine research work, Chen said China has asked the WHO, and some disease-hit countries to get the virus strain of the variant H1N1, which is crucial in ongoing vaccine researching work.

Li Dexin, a CDC senior official, told Xinhua that the WHO might provide the virus strain in mid May, which would be a great improvement to the vaccine development work.

He also revealed that the country has ordered all companies capable of vaccine production to make preparations for production.

"Once we get the H1N1 virus strain, it's possible to produce the vaccine in three months," Li said.