 |
| Philippines begins world's first mass dengue vaccination |
The Philippines this week
launched the world's first public dengue immunization programme, vaccinating
600 children at a school in the capital Manila with the goal of reaching 1
million students across the country this year.
Thomson
Reuters Foundation report continues:
Dengue,
also known as "breakbone fever", has spread rapidly around the world
in recent decades, and about half the world's population is now at risk.
Scientists
have been working on a vaccine for decades, and the first one received market
approval in December in Mexico.
Several
other vaccines are under development, while researchers are also looking at
ways to control the mosquitoes that spread dengue and other viruses such as
Zika.
Here
are some facts about dengue and prevention efforts.
WHAT
IS DENGUE?
*
Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, often causes a flu-like illness, with
symptoms including high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea,
vomiting and rash.
*
It can develop into the deadly severe dengue, or dengue haemorrhagic fever, characterized
by severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums
and blood in vomit.
*
There is no specific treatment for dengue. Patients are generally asked to
rest, drink plenty of fluids and take medication to reduce fever and joint
pains.
*
Fatality rates can be below 1 percent with proper medical care, but without
care, can be as high as 20 percent in patients with severe dengue.
WHO
IS AFFECTED?
*
The annual number of dengue cases has increased 30-fold in the last 50 years,
and there are now an estimated 390 million infections per year.
*
The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas,
the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.
*
Severe dengue was first recognized in the 1950s during dengue epidemics in the
Philippines and Thailand. Before 1970, only nine countries had experienced
severe dengue epidemics.
*
Severe dengue has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among
children in Asia and Latin America. Asia has the most cases, with 67 million
people infected per year.
HOW
CAN DENGUE BE PREVENTED?
*
Dengue transmission can be prevented by fighting the mosquitoes which carry the
disease, getting rid of places for them to lay eggs by covering or emptying
outdoor water containers, and disposing of solid waste properly.
*
Protection such as window screens for houses, long-sleeved clothes and
insecticide are also used.
*
Health experts have called for an integrated approach to fight dengue and for
vaccines to be part of the toolbox to fight the virus.
HOW
EFFECTIVE IS THE VACCINE?
*
Sanofi studies of Dengvaxia, a three-dose vaccine administered over the course
of a year, said it prevented eight out of 10 dengue hospitalizations.
*
A new dengue vaccine developed by scientists from the U.S. National Institutes
of Health (NIH) shows promise, with 100 percent protection in a small group,
according to a study published in March.
WHERE
IS THE VACCINE AVAILABLE?
*
Dengvaxia, which is approved for use in individuals aged 9 to 45, is registered
in the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil and El Salvador, with regulatory review
processes underway in other countries.
*
In the Philippines, fourth grade students who are nine or older will be
vaccinated, with an injection in the upper arm.
*
The free vaccinations are taking place at public schools in the capital Manila
and adjacent regions to the north and south, which have the highest number of
dengue cases.
Sources: World Health
Organization, Philippines Department of Health, Sanofi Pasteur.
No comments:
Post a Comment