State Key Lab in HK Ready to Analyze New Flu Strain

State Key Lab in HK ready to analyze new flu strain

HONG KONG, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) — Vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong said here Monday that the State Key Laboratory of the university was ready to analyze new strain of influenza diseases.

Speaking at the opening of the university’s Global Lounge, Vice- chancellor Tsui Lap-Chee said that surveillance is of paramount importance under the threat of large outbreak of influenza.

He told reporters that there were university’s research staff collecting samples in the Mainland. The State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases was ready to study, analyze newly found diseases and to test the effectiveness of vaccines.

The State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Central Government, started operating in October this year.

Research will be conducted on emerging viruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian flu, bacteria, fungi and anti- microbial resistance.

Furthermore, the university’s health center has arranged flu vaccination service for students and has worked out a string of measures to meet an emergency of influenza pandemic, said Tsui.