EUVICHOL-S (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified a new oral vaccine for Cholera called Euvichol-S.

Euvichol-S

• About: It  is a simplified formulation of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) Euvichol-Plus.
• Manufacturer: South Korea-based EuBiologics Co., Ltd.
• Potential Solution: The IVI claims that it can pave the way for a potential solution to the critical shortage of OCV worldwide.
• Third Product in the Family: It is the third product of the same family of vaccines for cholera listed in the WHO prequalification list.

 Cholera Disease

• About: It  is a water-borne disease.
• Caused by: An acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• Symptoms: Profuse watery diarrhoea, Vomiting, and Leg cramps
• Transmission: A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium.

o The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.

• Vaccine: Currently there are three WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV), Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus.