New tech could help us beat the flu much sooner
STUDIES have shown most adults aged over 30 catch influenza twice in a decade and most people misdiagnose a cold as being the flu.
Scientists at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation are working with international researchers to come up with a way to better diagnose the flu.
Statistics show many people think they have the flu when they actually have a cold virus.
ANSTO researchers say to be more effective in reducing the severity, anti-viral medications had to be used within 48 hours of getting symptoms. But current diagnostic methods limited this.
"What we are working towards is a platform that can be coupled to a portable electronic device to provide a rapid and accurate diagnosis of influenza," ANSTO's Bragg Institute research fellow Anton Le Brun said.
Severe strains could be identified easily using the technology coupled to a smartphone.
