VietNamNet Bridge – Besides the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, Vietnam is the fifth Southeast Asian country that is in the last research stage of dengue fever vaccine: test on humans.
Dr. Tran Ngoc Huu, director of the HCM City Pasteur Institute, said that the test of new dengue fever vaccine for children from 2 to 14 years old is being carried out in the southern provinces of Long Xuyen and Tien Giang.

He said that the vaccine has been researched for 20 years by Sanofi. Vietnam is among 13 Asian countries participating in the clinical research on humans.

The vaccine was tested on animals and on humans for two stages. This time test is the last stage before the vaccine is registered and put into use.

1,402 kids in Long Xuyen and 934 in Tien Giang will be tested.

Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquitos. Treatment of acute dengue is supportive, using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild or moderate disease, and intravenous fluids and blood transfusion for more severe cases. Dengue has become a worldwide problem since the Second World War and is endemic in more than 110 countries. Apart from eliminating the mosquitoes, work is ongoing on a vaccine, as well as medication targeted directly at the virus.

In the January-August period of 2011, Vietnam recorded more than 30,000 dengue fever patients, including 27 deaths.

PV