Explored business opportunities for “high sensitivity and high speed” biosensor technology which helps early detection of Ebola hemorrhagic fever.(1)

Ebola outbreaks
In 2014, Ebola hemorrhagic fever caused by Ebola virus with “strongest” infectivity and toxicity swept across West Africa. One week after the first group infection was discovered in Guinea, the infection spread to neighboring countries, Liberia, then Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and affected foreign medical personnel and reporters who have worked locally and returned home.

Discrimination lead by fear
Because the Ebola virus has a very strong infectivity, in the villages such as Liberia etc. where many victims were confirmed, along with the sufferers family members were also abandoned; they were forced to stay inside the house with windows and doors sealed suffering from thirst and hunger waiting to die.

Role to take by Japanese company
The economic loss due to Ebola hemorrhagic fever in West Africa region was estimated to be as high as 3,500 to 400 billion yen (World Bank). This also brought about market opportunities for technology against Ebola. With the spread of this epidemic “high sensitivity and high speed” sensor technology to detect infected people was in need. One domestic major manufacturer was addressing the development of the Ebola virus inspection machine utilizing the aptamer, the theoretically highest biosensor technology. They asked us to assist in building the model for its wide usage.