Dengue Vaccine

Dengue Vaccine

Subject : Science & Technology

Context :The Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a leading vaccine manufacturer in the country, has got permission for Phase-1 trial of dengue vaccine.

Concept :

• IIL is developing the dengue vaccine in collaboration with the US-based National Institute of Health (NIH). Virus is supplied by the National Institute of Health.
• There are two other dengue vaccine candidates — being developed by Panacea Biotec Limited and Sanofi India Private Limited. Both have got permission for clinical trials. Panacea Biotec Limited has completed Phase-1 and Phase-2 trials.
• Sanofi India Private Limited’s vaccine has already been approved in the US; it has started conducting trials in India (Dengvaxia Vaccine).

Dengvaxia Vaccine:

• The dengue vaccine CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 2019, the first dengue vaccine to get the regulatory nod in the US.
• Dengvaxia is basically a live, attenuated dengue virus which has to be administered in people of ages 9 to 16 who have laboratory-confirmed previous dengue infection and who live in endemic areas.

About Dengue :

• Dengue is a vector-borne disease transmitted by the bite of an infected female Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
• This mosquito also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika infection.
• Aedesaegypti is a daytime feeder. The peak biting periods are early in the morning and in the evening before dusk.
• There are 4 serotypes of the virus that causes dengue. These are known as DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, DEN-4.
• The symptoms of the disease will begin anywhere between three to fourteen days after the initial infection.
• The symptoms include: High fever, Headache, Vomiting, Muscle and joint pains, Skin Rash.
• Diagnosis of dengue infection is done with a blood test.
• Dengue cannot be spread directly from person to person. However, a person infected and suffering from dengue fever can infect other mosquitoes.
• Most cases occur in tropical areas of the world, including the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Southern China, Taiwan, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, Mexico, Africa, Central and South America.
• According to the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), 1,93,245 cases of dengue and 346 deaths were reported across the country last year.
• WHO estimates 39 crore dengue virus infections per year, of which 9.6 crore show symptoms.