Dengue vaccine offers new hope

A Mahidol Univer-sity research team has succeeded in developing a prototype vaccine that could prevent dengue haemorrhagic fever in four strains of the disease.

The prototype is the first of its kind and could save children aged five to 10 from the infection.

Dr Suthee Yoksan, director of research at the university's vaccine-development centre, said the vaccine could boost and build human immunity and could remain effective in the body for more than 10 years.

"We could develop the vaccine to prevent four strains of dengue fever using only one dose," he said

About 10 per cent of children in Thailand are at risk of getting dengue fever. This vaccine is appropriate for children aged six months to a year, but it is not recommended for children aged three months because they still have immunity from their mother. The vaccine can also be used in adults.

The vaccine has been under development for more than 28 years by the Mahidol research team. The centre had selected 100 dengue fever strains extracted from patients and tested the vaccine on patients in Lamphun, Loei and Chachoengsao provinces. The results from the human trials proved satisfactory.

However, Suthee said the vaccine must be developed at an industrial level for use nationwide and support was needed from the government to set up a plant to produce the vaccine.

China, Vietnam, India, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines have already established vaccine plants

Dr Thawat Suntrajarn, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said there were 50 cases of dengue fever this month. Most were found in central Thailand. There was a severe case in Ayutthaya in which the patient suffered bleeding and shock and had little chance of survival.

"It is good news for Thailand that we have succeeded in developing this vaccine. Only one injection can prevent infection. This could reduce the mortality and morbidity rate, particularly in children, who suffer at least 40,000 cases a year with 100 deaths," he said.

Duangkamon Sajirawattanakul

The Nation