Amrita Hospital has commenced the third phase of testing for the 'Dengue All' vaccine, marking a significant milestone in the battle against dengue fever. This trial, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is notable as it is the first of its kind to reach this advanced stage in India.
Conducted at the Amrita Urban Health Centre in Kaloor, the trial is supported by the hospital's Community Medicine, Microbiology and General Medicine departments. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Panacea Biotec are overseeing the study, which involves 10,335 participants across 19 locations in India.
"All four serotypes of the dengue virus are present in India. Therefore, individuals who have previously contracted dengue can become infected again," explains Dr. Teena Mary Joy, Associate Professor, Community Medicine. "Our study aims to develop a vaccine effective against all strains of dengue," she added.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India accounts for one-third of the world's dengue cases, with many cases being asymptomatic. Children and young adults are at a higher risk of experiencing severe illness. Previous phases of the "Dengue All" trial have demonstrated that the vaccine is effective against all known dengue strains.
