A project in Uganda that aims to develop a paper-strip test for the deadly Ebola and Marburg viruses is among 102 initiatives across the world to be funded by the government of Canada through its Grand Challenges Canada project.
The paper strip test would, if developed, help test for the virus in a cheap and quick manner within the community just like it is done for malaria. The project has been boosted with $100,000.
The Uganda project leader, Dr Misaki Wayengera of Makerere University College of Health Sciences said that the highly infectious nature of both Ebola and Marburg, coupled with poor epidemiological data on their origins make it hard for them to be easily detected in the early days of an outbreak.
“Amidst the inappropriateness of existing diagnostic technologies towards usability in bio-terror and point-of-care settings, development of rapid, easy to use, cheap, and reliable biomarkers for either filo viruses is a global health priority,” Dr Misaki explained.
“Ebola and Marburg outbreaks are often initially silent, much as the clinical picture should raise suspicion. As a result, health workers are exposed and die of viral haemorrhagic fever.”
NMG
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