In what may serve as a major relief to governments and poultry owners the world over, biothermal RFID (radio frequency identification) chips now promise to alert them about avian flu.
Currently, the only crude methods of identifying avian flu include looking out for discolouration of the beak, sneezing, dioarrhoea, or sudden death.
US-based Digital Angel Corporation has introduced a biothermal chip and an RFID reader to alert poultry farmers to rising temperatures in the flock -- a vital sign of the flu.
Kevin McGrath, Digital Angel CEO, told
Business Standard, "We believe that our proprietary technology should be made available to vulnerable countries and researchers working to control the spread of avian flu. We have had two lakh bio-thermo chips manufactured for this and companion pet applications. We are prepared to work with research institutions and government entities on any further research necessary to control avian flu."
The biothermal chips are approximately 10 mm in length and are inserted into a bird's breast with a single inoculation. About three to four