Vaccine against dengue a scientific challenge

• May 3, 2024

International organizations warn: the incidence of dengue has increased dramatically worldwide in recent decades. It is estimated that two fifths of the world population are at risk of contracting this viral disease caused by the infectious bite of a simple mosquito.

Other voices are raised: in an article published by pharmacists Fernando Paredes and Juan José Roca, in the Journal of the Pharmacy Office of Spain, it is stated that 25 years ago it was believed that infectious diseases had ceased to be a threat to the developed world thanks to the progress made in the fields of epidemiology, environmental sanitation, or the development and development of new and better vaccines.

The surprise, in the opinion of experts, is that far from it, the reality is that not only have not been eradicated, but many of these infectious diseases have resurfaced or experienced a resurgence through novel forms of infection that are changing the clinical, epidemiological and therapeutic patterns. Among these emerging infectious diseases, the dengue virus is found.

The specific treatment that eliminates the condition is still far from becoming reality. The possibility of having a vaccine against dengue represents a challenge for medical science.

Dengue, tetravalent disease

One of the obstacles that has prevented, so far, the development of medicines or vaccines against dengue, for both mild and severe cases, is the nature of it.

The disease can be caused by four different viruses, so the vaccine would have to be tetravalent, that is, provide protection against these four viruses.

According to the World Health Organization, knowledge about the origin and evolution of the disease as well as its immune responses are limited. On the other hand, the development of experimental vaccines is hampered by the lack of animal models.

Science advances: two vaccines in the making

The World Health Organization Initiative for Vaccine Research reports that despite these challenges, two experimental vaccines are already in the advanced clinical evaluation phase in endemic countries, while others are in less advanced stages of development.

So far, the only method of control and prevention of the transmission of dengue viruses lies in the fight against transmitting mosquitoes.

Video Medicine: June 2017 ACIP Meeting - Agency Updates;Dengue Virus Vaccines, Yellow Fever Vaccine (May 2024).