New tools for detection of emerging public health risks

Part of a general trend for smaller, cheaper and faster sensors of all types, new devices and systems may be able to rapidly screen populations and environments for the presence of infectious agents, and to quickly identify these agents.

Handheld devices become available at low cost, enabling rapid screening of fluid samples to detect and identify disease agents. This will make it quick to distinguish for example, whether flu-like symptoms are evidence of serious conditions or to differentiate between different cancers. On the one hand there is the possibility of more remote diagnosis, on the other is the identification of allergies, pollutants and pharmaceuticals in people, such as residents visiting their local surgery. In principle, such tools might make early and more effective treatment more feasible and limit epidemic outbreaks. Such tools could also mean fewer false positives in more routine screening.

Sources or references

• Foresight Programme “Detection and Identification of Infectious Diseases” project (2006)
• “A Handheld Device That Can Diagnose Illness and Save Lives”

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.