The first indigenous Vaccine against Dengue
- May 17, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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The first indigenous Vaccine against Dengue
Subject : Science and technology
Section: Biotechnology
Concept :
- Drug makers Serum Institute of India and Panacea Biotec are moving closer to develop the country’s first vaccine against dengue.
- They have applied to the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) call for ‘Expression of Interest’ for collaborative Phase-III clinical trials for indigenous manufacturers.
- Phase-III clinical trial is being done for evaluation of efficacy, along with safety and immunogenicity of tetravalent dengue vaccine.
- The desirable characteristics of a dengue vaccine includes:
- Acceptable short and long-term safety profile (no antibody dependent enhancement).
- Inducing protection against all four serotypes of dengue.
- Reducing risk of severe diseases and deaths.
- Inducing a sustained immune response and effectiveness irrespective of the earlier sero-status and age of the individual.
Risk posed by Dengue:
- The global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically with about half of the world’s population now at risk.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified dengue to be one among the top ten global health threats in 2019.
- As of now, there is no specific treatment for dengue/severe dengue. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop effective vaccines against dengue viral disease.
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.
- Aedes aegypti 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.
- There is no vaccine or specific medication for dengue fever. Patients should seek medical advice, rest and drink plenty of fluids.
- 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.
- WHO estimates 39 crore dengue virus infections per year, of which 9.6 crore show symptoms.