The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) could be launching an indigenous dengue vaccine in 2020, designed to counter the outbreak of the vector-borne virus. According to a senior official of the ICMR, the launch would be on a demonstration basis in areas where the disease prevalence is high.
Recently, a dengue serosurvey has been conducted across 15 states, including West Bengal, to identify the prevalence of the disease. ICMR director-general Balram Bhargava said that demonstration projects to test the vaccine could be launched by the year-end. “It is not easy to counter dengue, which is why the launch of the vaccine was preceded by a serotype mapping of the virus. We have been doing it slowly but very systematically to identify the best possible areas for the launch. There are a couple of vaccines now, including a Japanese one. We are keeping fingers crossed for our vaccine,” he added.
Dengue has been a common thread on a research platform of south Asian countries with WHO as a partner. “We have collaborated with the US because we go by the book and go systematic. That’s why we don’t want to rush,” the secretary to the department of health research, ministry of health and family welfare said.
He also added that India would adopt the ways Sri Lanka has dealt with dengue and the country is set to enter into a collaboration with the island nation for the same. India is in the final phase of signing a collaboration with Sri Lanka as their dengue programme has been “exemplary”, he added.
Antibiotic resistance is a major area of concern globally and in India, pointed out Bhargava. “Bacteria outsmarts us by developing resistance. They can resist even new antibiotics. So, it is imperative to use the drugs judiciously,” said Bhargava. On the high numbers of dengue deaths in West Bengal, he said. “We have to remember that the disease outbreak follows a pattern. We have to look at the map where it is very high,” he added.

Source: Moneycontrol, Times Of India, Business Standard.

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