Currently, the only crude methods of identifying avian flu include looking out for discolouration of the beak, sneezing, dioarrhoea, or sudden death.
US-based Digital Angel Corporation has introduced a biothermal chip and an RFID reader to alert poultry farmers to rising temperatures in the flock -- a vital sign of the flu.
Kevin McGrath, Digital Angel CEO, told Business Standard, "We believe that our proprietary technology should be made available to vulnerable countries and researchers working to control the spread of avian flu. We have had two lakh bio-thermo chips manufactured for this and companion pet applications. We are prepared to work with research institutions and government entities on any further research necessary to control avian flu."
The biothermal chips are approximately 10 mm in length and are inserted into a bird's breast with a single inoculation. About three to four
lakh dogs and cats in Asia are currently tagged with a Digital Angel RFID chip each year.
The company also designs tags for humans under the name VeraChips, which are used primarily in medical applications and some for security.
Digital Angel claims to have sold more implantable microchips for animals than anyone in the world. The company works in two areas: chipping fish and companion pets (cats and dogs).
For the past 10 years in the US, it has been supplying implantable microchips to the US Department of Energy and related agencies for chipping salmon in the northwest area of the country.
Since it chips between two to three million salmon a year, McGrath estimates that the company has probably chipped between 20 and 30 million fish.
"Also, we have probably chipped more than 10 million dogs and cats," he adds. The company is targeting all countries in Asia that have a large poultry stocks, including ducks and chicken.
This includes India, but mainly China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and all countries in South East Asia. It has no partners as yet.
