@article{a74f1ffca11a40748970ccae8575023c,
title = "High-throughput molecular detection of hemorrhagic fever virus threats with applications for outbreak settings",
abstract = "Within the past dozen years, outbreaks of filoviral hemorrhagic fever within the human population have been occurring with increasing frequency, with an average of 1 epidemic now occurring every 1-2 years. Many of the outbreaks have been large (involving >150 cases), necessitating rapid responses from the international community to help implement infection control and surveillance. This increased activity, combined with today's climate of bioterrorism threats, has heightened the need for high-throughput methodologies for specific detection of these high-hazard viruses in sophisticated laboratory setups and mobile field laboratory situations. Using Zaire Ebola virus as an example, we describe here the development of a high-throughput protocol for RNA extraction and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis that is safe, fast, and reliable. Furthermore, the applicability of this method to an outbreak setting was demonstrated by correct analysis of >500 specimens at a field laboratory established during a recent outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Angola.",
author = "Towner, {Jonathan S.} and Sealy, {Tara K.} and Ksiazek, {Thomas G.} and Nichol, {Stuart T.}",
note = "Funding Information: Supplement sponsorship. This article was published as part of a supplement entitled “Filoviruses: Recent Advances and Future Challenges,” sponsored by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the National Institutes of Health, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Cangene, CUH2A, Smith Carter, Hemisphere Engineering, Crucell, and the International Centre for Infectious Diseases. Funding Information: We thank Heinz Feldmann, Allen Grolla, Lisa Fernando, Steven Jones, Ute Str{\"o}her, and Jim Strong from the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada for their assistance in processing the field specimens obtained in Uige, Angola. The management of the outbreak was greatly assisted by the Ministry of Health, Republic of Angola; the World Health Organization; and the International Response Team. We also thank Filomena Gomes da Silva of the Instituto Nacional de Sa{\'u}de Publica and Fernando del Castillo and Amilcar Tanuri of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta) Global Aids Program, for their excellent logistical assistance with the CDC field laboratory. The efforts of Daniel Kertesz of the World Health Organization were also critical for sending the initial sets of diagnostic specimens to the CDC. We would also like to thank the US Embassy to Angola and the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance for their essential financial and logistical support, as well as the Chevron Corporation for the loan of a crucial electrical generator. The CDC field laboratory was well supported by Pierre E. Rollin, Amy L. Hartman, Martin J. Vincent, and James A. Comer, and technical assistance was received from Darcy A. Bawiec, Bobbie R. Erickson, Jennifer B. Oliver, Deborah L. Cannon, Kimberly A. Slaughter, and Thomas L. Stevens. We would also like to thank Mike Frace and Brian Halloway for making available multiple components of the CDC Biotechnology Core Facility, which immensely facilitated this study.",
year = "2007",
month = nov,
day = "15",
doi = "10.1086/520601",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "196",
pages = "S205--S212",
journal = "Journal of Infectious Diseases",
issn = "0022-1899",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",
number = "SUPPL. 2",
}