Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H5N2 Real Time PCR Kit

H5N2 is a subtype of the species Influenzavirus A, which is further classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). The subtype H5N2 infects a wide variety of birds, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, falcons, and ostriches.

Outbreaks of "high-path" H5N2 result in the culling of thousands of birds in poultry farms from time to time. It appears that people who work with birds can be infected by the virus but suffer hardly any noticeable health effects. Even people exposed to the highly pathogenic H5N2 variety that killed ostrich chicks in South Africa only seem to have developed conjunctivitis, or perhaps a mild respiratory illness. There is no evidence of the human-to-human spread of H5N2. In 1983, H5N2 caused flu outbreaks in chickens and turkeys on many farms, which led to significant economic losses.

The BioPerfectus Avian Influenza Virus Subtype H5N2 Real Time PCR Kit is an in vitro diagnostic test, based on real-time PCR technology, for the detection of H5N2 Virus RNA. Samples can be obtained from human throat swabs and nasopharyngeal secretions.