Sanofi has now received approval for the use of Dengvaxia, a new vaccine against Dengue fever, in Brazil, Mexico and the Philippines.

The vaccine has been tested in patients within the age range of 9-45 years, in whom three vaccination rounds resulted in the prevention of the 4 forms of Dengue fever in 65% of the cases. Successful vaccination against the fatal (hemorrhagic strain (one of the four forms) was obtained in 93% of the cases.

Background information

Dengue fever is caused by Dengue virus (a positively single stranded RNA virus), which is spreading to larger areas around the world, via the extremely resilient mosquito Aedes Aegypti. After an incubation time of about 8-10 days, symptoms of the infection (through mosquito bites) include the generic flu-like symptoms, but also rash, and burning sensation in the eyes. There is no cure, so protection against mosquito bites has been (up until now) the only preventive measure in contracting the disease.

http://www.dw.com/en/dengue-a-closer-look-at-a-spreading-fever/a-18951298?maca=en-linkedin-sharing

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/dengue_fever/pages/index.aspx