Biotech Values

[Biowatch]

pick a flu strain on VERY short notice

could be an important tool to stop the spread in a confined setting like a ship or a hospital or university, etc.

These days, genome sequencing is fast and efficient, which is part of the equation.

No need to guess what strains are likely to be prevalent a year in advance, the current approach to producing flu vaccines that is hit or miss at best.

There are stories about bird flu showing up in cow’s milk which has farmers concerned. If the milk is pasteurized, the virus is destroyed, but at least one farm worker was infected.

So, although the sky is not falling, chicken little, the ability to recognize new strains and produce a vaccine quickly, even if in small quantities, is a definite plus.