DengiALL (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Panacea Biotec Limited announced the initiation of the first ever phase 3 clinical trial for a dengue vaccine in India.

DengiAll

• Developed by: Panacea Biotec, commenced with the first participant vaccinated at Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak.
• Vaccine Background: The tetravalent dengue vaccine strain (TV003/TV005), originally developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, has demonstrated promising results in both preclinical and clinical trials globally.
• Development Stage: Panacea Biotec, one of three Indian companies to receive the vaccine strain, is at the most advanced stage of developing and testing the vaccine in India.
• Dengue
• About: It is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes species mosquitoes.
• Found: Tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
• Symptoms: Usually begin 4–10 days after infection and last for 2–7 days. Symptoms may include: high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and rash.
• Severe Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, fatigue and restlessness.
• Treatment: There is no specific treatment for dengue.

Current Scenario

• High Incidence: Dengue is a significant public health issue in India, ranking among the top 30 countries globally with the highest incidence of the disease.
• Asymptomatic Infections: Approximately 75-80% of dengue infections in India are asymptomatic, yet these individuals can still transmit the virus via Aedes mosquito bites.
• Risk to Children: Among the 20-25% of symptomatic cases, children face a considerably higher risk of hospitalization and mortality.
• Currently, there is no antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine against dengue in India.