SG's weapon in [i]CV Kitty Hawk[/i]
-
sg is small but we still help to protect the mighty US 7th fleet.A Singapore bioscience firm has set up the first on-board avian flu testing laboratories on the US Seventh Fleet's flagship and an aircraft carrier, the company confirmed Monday.
31 July 2006
http://www.vereduslabs.com/news.html23.07.2006
Veredus Laboratories and the United States NavyÂ’s Seventh Fleet jointly setup
WorldÂ’s First Ship-based Avian Flu Testing Laboratory.
Singapore, July 31, 2006 - Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd today announced that they have teamed
up with the U.S. NavyÂ’s Seventh Fleet to setup ship-based avian flu testing laboratories.
U.S. Seventh Fleet Surgeon, Capt. Charles Baxter, together with Dr. Rosemary Tan, CEO of
Veredus Laboratories, have evaluated the medical laboratory capabilities on board a U.S. Navy
afloat unit and determined that rapid testing for avian bird flu (H5N1) can be performed to
internationally recognized standard, ultimately saving lives. Dr. Tan has also conducted training
sessions for the Seventh Fleet command ship USS Blue RidgeÂ’s medical department on
laboratory procedures dealing with the H5N1 virus.
The ship-based avian flu testing laboratories will be using VeredusÂ’ avian flu H5N1 kit, which
has been developed and tested over the last few years. It is used to detect the pathogen as it is able
to detect minute amount of the RNA of the Avian Flu virus in infected humans or animals. This
highly specific and accurate test will give the laboratories the capability to rapidly identify the
H5N1 virus within hours.
The lab results and using the fleet response kits will allow the unit to perform the necessary
decontamination and disinfection procedures in the event of an on-board infection to provide
protection to unaffected crew members and prevent any possible spread of the virus into a port.
U.S. Seventh Fleet Surgeon Capt. Baxter added, “This laboratory test will help the ships’ overall
medical readiness and allow Seventh Fleet units to continue its mission with minimal operational
impact.
Having the ability to rapidly test and identify individuals infected with the H5N1 virus
will allow us to contain the spread of the virus in infected persons and allow us to focus our
medical resources more efficiently. With limited supplies of Tamiflu and no proven avian flu
vaccine, having this capability is paramount to Force Health Protection and will be critical in an
actual pandemic.”
“Currently the gold standard to confirm the H5N1 infection is by viral culture. This process takes
approximately 10 days once the specimen is received at a reference laboratory. There are also a
limited number of certified viral culture labs available worldwide. In a pandemic these labs
would quickly become overwhelmed and unable to meet regional demands. That could
significantly affect morbidity and mortality rates,” said Dr. Tan. “Molecular DNA analysis,
embodied in this H5N1 afloat test kit, is quickly becoming accepted as a very specific, sensitive
and accurate detection method in viral infection. This kit has been tested in parallel with viral
cultures of Avian Flu cases in Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam with excellent results.”
“Exploit Technologies is pleased that Veredus is able to leverage on world class research from
A*STAR researchers to develop a robust solution to address a global need to rapidly detect avian
flu,” said Mr. Boon Swan Foo, Managing Director of A*STAR and Executive Chairman of
Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd. “We are proud that Veredus is able to develop an afloat detection
test for the U.S. Navy.”
As the avian flu viruses are constantly mutating and changing, our double-checking test means
that we can provide a high degree of confidence and comfort to our end users when they use our
tests,” said Chua Chee Min, Managing Director of Veredus Laboratories. “We are pleased to
2.Avian flu testing labs on US navy ships,Singapore | July 31, 2006
-
Chey, lab onli...I tot US Marines guarding Kitty Hawk with SAR-21 Rifles
-
Not SAR21, but maybe with our Ultimax...Originally posted by Texcoco II:Chey, lab onli...I tot US Marines guarding Kitty Hawk with SAR-21 Rifles
-
Yes, there are reports stating that our latest variant of the Ultimax is a very strong contender for the replacement of the Minimi in US Marines inventory.Originally posted by dork3d:Not SAR21, but maybe with our Ultimax... 
-
But are they seriously considering the Beta-C mag options?
-
will it become a travelling breeding ground of bird flu virus?
-
Biazon also grilled defense and AFP officials on why the AFP overturned the recommendations of the commandants of the Philippine Army and Philippine Marines since 1992 in favor of the Ultimax, compared to the Minimi, a light machinegun used in some countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1371154/posts
Ultimax preferred
Reading the letters of the Army and Marine commandants, Biazon said: "Very clearly, the commandants of the user units-the Army and the Marines-want the Ultimax. How come [you chose] the Minimi?"
Biazon said the Army and Marine commanders chose the Ultimax after conducting tests on it and the Minimi.
Why Minimi was chosen
Vice Adm. Ariston de los Reyes said the Minimi was chosen based on the circular of requirements (COR) submitted by the Philippine Army Modernization Board.
De los Reyes said the Minimi was chosen over Ultimax because the latter was only magazine-fed. He said the COR, which laid the specifications for the weapon, stated that the assault weapon should be both magazine- and link-fed.
Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes, who approved the contract in June 2001 when he was defense secretary, said FNH won over two other bidders-Daewoo of Korea and the Ordnance Development Board of Singapore.