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Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
How new ICMR vaccine gives new hope in fight against malaria
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a promising candidate vaccine for malaria, which it will now further develop, test and manufacture for commercial purposes in partnership with private companies. Known as AdFalciVax, the vaccine mainly targets two parts of Plasmodium falciparum, a pathogen that is the most common source of malaria in humans. In India, however, the disease is caused by Plasmodium vivax against which AdFalciVax is ineffective. Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes, typically causing symptoms such as fever, chills, night sweats, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In some cases, it can lead to severe complications such as seizures, fluid in the lungs, organ damage, and death. Having claimed millions of lives, malaria has been one of the deadliest diseases in human history. Currently, the disease kills about four lakh people annually, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures. Malaria is most endemic in Africa — Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Niger, and Burkina Faso together account for more than half the yearly deaths. The disease is also present in India, although malaria deaths have sharply reduced in the country in recent years. According to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), reported malaria deaths stood at 1,151in 1995, and came down to only 93 in 2020 and 83 in 2022. Note that these figures are much lower than the numbers provided annually by the WHO. The organisation's 'World Malaria Report' says there were 5,511 deaths due to the disease in India in 2022. This discrepancy is due to WHO providing estimates and NVBDCP providing only the number of confirmed deaths, which may not have been officially reported. To combat malaria, scientists have been working to develop a vaccine for decades but with limited success. Recently, two vaccines—RTS,S and R21—were approved for use, but their efficacy, at 75%, is quite low. That's why the announcement about ICMR's candidate vaccine has given new hope in the fight against the disease. AdFalciVax is a chimeric recombinant vaccine — a type of vaccine that uses different parts of the genes of a pathogen (in this case, Plasmodium) to create target proteins that trigger an immune response after being injected. AdFalciVax uses two types of target proteins to prevent the spread of infection in two different ways. n It uses the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) to prevent infection in the person who has been immunised. The CSP is produced during the sporozoite stage (when a parasite can infect a new host) and the liver stage (when a parasite enters liver cells, multiplies, and then infects red blood cells) of the parasite. Subhash Singh, project manager for development of the vaccine at the ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, told The Indian Express: 'Any immune response generated against these stages protects the immunised person from getting the infection.' n The vaccine also uses the Pro6C protein, a fusion of parts of two different proteins — Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 — produced by Plasmodium falciparum. This protein prevents the spread of infection in the community. 'The Pro6C protein… stops further spread of the disease by disrupting the lifecycle of the pathogen. It disrupts the development of the parasite in the midgut of a mosquito preventing further transmission,' Singh said. Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 only use the CSP protein, and can prevent infection only in vaccinated persons. Unlike AdFalciVax, RTS,S and R21 vaccines also do not use full-length CSP proteins. This is why the ICMR's candidate vaccine is 'likely to produce a stronger immune response and better protect against infection,' according to Singh. Researchers have found that AdFalciVax provided more than 90% protection against infection in mice. The candidate vaccine has yet to undergo rigorous human trials, and the preliminary results have been obtained only through testing on animals. Studies have also suggested that AdFalciVax produces an immune response that may last longer than that produced by the other two vaccines. Singh said: 'One of the challenges of existing vaccines is that the immune response is short-lived. People need a fifth booster shot even after four primary doses. We do not know how this will work in humans, but preliminary indications show that three doses of the ICMR candidate vaccine produced robust protection against infection in mice for more than three months. This roughly translates to a decade in human life.' AdFalciVax also contains an adjuvant — a substance used in vaccines to boost the body's immune response against the targeted disease — called alum. Singh says the use of alum is beneficial as it does not pose a risk of causing chronic inflammation, unlike adjuvants such as AS01 and Matrix M, which are used in RTS,S and R21. Alum is also known to be reliable, and has been used in numerous vaccines used in childhood immunisation programs over the years. Another advantage is that alum in AdFalciVax can remain stable at room temperature for at least nine months, according to initial studies. This might make it possible to 'transport the vaccines without maintaining the cold chain,' Singh said. The ICMR wants to partner with a company that can further develop its candidate vaccine, carry out human clinical trials, and scale up for commercial production. Although the ICMR will share the technology of developing AdFalciVax with the chosen company, it will continue to hold the intellectual property rights. Any intellectual property rights generated during the collaboration will be held jointly by the ICMR and the company. The ICMR will also earn 2% royalty on any sales of the vaccine. Authors from both the company and the ICMR will be credited in any research papers generated, and all data will be jointly owned.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Scrub typhus is now the most common infectious cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in southern India
A large multicentre study of 587 children with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu has revealed that scrub typhus, a bacterial infection, is now the most common infectious cause of AES in southern India. The study by a team of researchers from NIMHANS, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, and St. John's Medical College Hospital has been recently published in The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia. Global challenge AES, characterised by acute onset fever and altered mental status and/or new seizures, presents a significant global public health challenge. It has an incidence of 3.5 to 13.8 cases per 1,00,000 patient-years, disproportionately affects children, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In India, over 10,000 cases of AES are reported annually to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). Historically, surveillance efforts have prioritised Japanese encephalitis (JE), even as its incidence has significantly declined due to widespread vaccination. Moreover, recent studies reveal a dynamic, region-specific, and evolving aetiology of AES in India. Scrub typhus (caused by bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi), an under-recognised cause of AES, has been increasingly reported in certain regions. Aimed at systematically investigating infectious aetiologies of AES in children from southern India and developing clinical prediction models for diagnosing scrub typhus, the study found that the bacterial infection is now the most common infectious cause (44%) of AES in southern India, far exceeding Japanese encephalitis virus (11%). Scrub typhus and other doxycycline-treatable infections are significant contributors of AES in India. However, limited surveillance in southern India has hindered their recognition and the inclusion of doxycycline in treatment protocols. From tertiary care hospitals The prospective study enrolled children aged above 28 days to 18 years with AES presenting to three tertiary care hospitals in Bengaluru - Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Vani Vilas, and St. John Medical College Hospital. Primary outcomes were microbiological diagnosis of AES and clinical prediction models for diagnosing scrub typhus and identifying patients with doxycycline-treatable causes. Models were developed using multivariable logistic regression, internally validated, and simplified into point-scoring systems. Between March 2020 and February 2023, 714 children were screened, of whom 587 were included. Of these, 315 (54%) had a microbiological diagnosis. Scrub typhus accounted for 138/315 (44%), and doxycycline-treatable causes were diagnosed in 193/315 (61%) of these cases. Key predictors associated with both scrub typhus and doxycycline-treatable causes were age, illness duration, lymphadenopathy, oedema, hepatomegaly, lymphocyte count, platelet count, and serum albumin levels, said Tina Damodar, clinical virologist and DBT-Welcome Trust fellow, Department of Neurovirology at NIMHANS, who is the lead author of the study. 'Among the 315 children with an identified infectious cause, dengue (10%), leptospira (5%), and chikungunya (5%) were also notable. Other detected pathogens included herpes viruses, enteroviruses, pneumococcus, tuberculosis, and measles, reflecting a diverse and region-specific AES landscape. These findings highlight the need to update AES surveillance and treatment protocols,' Dr. Damodar told The Hindu on Thursday. 'The study found that over 60% of microbiologically confirmed AES cases were caused by doxycycline-treatable infections, primarily scrub typhus. Despite this, doxycycline is not routinely included in empirical AES treatment in many parts of India,' she said. Recommendation Another author Reeta S. Mani, head of Neurovirology at NIMHANS, said that based on the results, the study recommends including doxycycline or azithromycin in the initial treatment of children with AES or acute febrile illness (AFI) in southern India - a change already implemented at the participating referral tertiary care hospitals. 'Timely treatment is critical. Among the 138 children with scrub typhus, nearly 40% either died or developed neurological complications, largely due to delayed diagnosis. To address this, the study calls for wider availability of scrub typhus diagnostic tests (IgM ELISA or PCR) at primary and secondary care levels,' the doctor said. The researchers have also developed a clinical prediction model - a simple point-based tool that can help frontline clinicians identify children likely to benefit from doxycycline, even before lab confirmation is available.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
City to conduct door-to-door campaign against vector-borne diseases
Varanasi: A special communicable disease control campaign will be conducted from July 1-31 under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to prevent vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, filariasis and kala-azar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Additionally, a door-to-door awareness campaign will run from July 11-31. A district-level interdepartmental task force meeting was held on Wednesday at the Collectorate auditorium, to discuss the preparations for the campaign. The meeting was chaired by district magistrate Satyendra Kumar and attended by chief development officer Himanshu Nagpal. The DM gathered a detailed information from the health department and all 13 supporting departments regarding the campaign preparations and instructed them to prepare a micro-plan as soon as possible. He emphasised that any negligence by any department official will not be tolerated. The work should be executed 100% according to the micro-plan. In the communicable disease control campaign conducted in April, the city CDPO received a stern warning for the unsatisfactory work by Anganwadi workers in the urban area. All departments should focus on data feeding and monitoring. The DM instructed that there should be no waterlogging or unsanitary conditions in either urban or rural areas of the district. The municipal corporation should take immediate action in case of water accumulation or blocked drains in the city. In rural areas, the panchayati raj and rural development departments should act promptly. Anti-larvae spraying and fogging should be conducted in hotspot areas, densely populated areas, and other slum areas. He said that the communicable disease control and awareness campaign can only be successful through the coordination of all departments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This is possible only when all departments fulfil their assigned responsibilities diligently. Frontline workers from various departments will visit homes to provide information on the prevention of vector-borne and infectious diseases and motivate people to change their behaviour. They should inform as many people as possible about mosquito-borne diseases and how to prevent them. ASHA and Anganwadi workers should work according to the micro-plan. All departments should ensure that the micro-plan is submitted within three days to ensure the successful execution of the campaign. The food department was instructed to regularly check the quality of food items at restaurants, sweet shops, and street food vendors in the district to prevent food poisoning. The education department should organise awareness activities in all schools and educational institutions. The urban development, rural development, and panchayati raj departments should continuously carry out all necessary activities to reduce mosquito density. Sensitisation and training should be provided to all village heads, secretaries and panchayat assistants. All officers and staff should be present at all block-level meetings and training sessions. ASHA and anganwadi workers should focus on counselling during the awareness campaign. Dengue and other patients should be provided immediate treatment at the CHC and PHC levels. Chief medical officer Dr Sandeep Chaudhary said that preparations for the successful execution of the campaign began. All departments were informed about the instructions received from the govt. All reports will be fed into the e-Kavach portal, and regular review and monitoring will be conducted. The CMO also informed about the 'Stop Diarrhea Control Campaign', which will run for two months alongside the communicable disease control month campaign.
India Today
23-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
How dengue mosquitoes breed and spread: All you need to know
Dengue fever is a serious mosquito-borne illness that spreads rapidly, especially during the monsoon season. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which spreads dengue, breeds in clean stagnant water and bites during the day. To protect yourself and your loved ones, it's crucial to understand how dengue spreads and what preventive steps you can Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and National Health Mission (NHM), has issued easy-to-follow guidelines to help citizens stay DENGUE MOSQUITOES SPREADDengue mosquitoes breed in clean, still water that may collect in and around your home. These breeding spots include:Water tanks and containersFlower pots and traysCoolers and bucketsDiscarded tires, cans, and utensilsThe mosquitoes that cause dengue bite mainly during daylight hours, making daytime protection equally ALL WATER STORAGE CONTAINERSEnsure that all tanks, drums, buckets, and utensils used for storing water are properly covered at all is the first and most essential step to stop mosquito breeding at FULL-BODY COVERING CLOTHESTo reduce the risk of mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved shirts, full pants, socks, and shoes—especially during the sleeveless clothing or shorts, particularly for children and the MOSQUITO NETS AND REPELLENTSAlways use mosquito nets while sleeping, even during the can also apply mosquito repellent creams or sprays to exposed skin, especially when going MESH OR NETTING ON WINDOWS AND DOORSFix fine mesh screens on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your any holes or tears to ensure full AND EMPTY UNUSED CONTAINERSEmpty and clean all coolers, pots, trays, and containers regularly, especially if they are kept letting water collect in unused dishes, bottles, or broken LARVICIDES IN WATER STORAGE ITEMSWhere water cannot be emptied or replaced frequently, use larvicides as recommended by health authorities to kill mosquito larvae and prevent them from YOUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBOURSCommunity efforts are key to stopping dengue. Spread awareness about mosquito breeding and everyone to keep their surroundings clean and PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CUREDengue can cause high fever, rashes, joint pain, and in severe cases, internal bleeding and organ failure. There is no specific cure for dengue, and treatment is mainly supportive. This makes prevention not just important, but dengue starts at home. With simple daily habits and community cooperation, we can significantly reduce the risk of dengue water containers covered, avoid stagnant water, wear protective clothing, and spread let's build a dengue-free and safer environment for Reel
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
72% drop in malaria cases in Bastar from 2015, says admin
Raipur: Bastar division has recorded a 72% drop in malaria cases compared to 2015, under state's disease control programme in one of the most challenging malaria-prone regions, officials said. According to a data released by the state health department, the malaria positivity rate in Bastar has fallen from 4.60% to just 0.46%, while the Annual Parasite Incidence (API) in the region has dropped from 27.4 in 2015 to 7.11 in 2024. At the state level, the API has gone down from 5.21 to 0.98 in the same period. Compared to 2023, malaria cases in 2024 have seen a further decline of 8.52%. Health department officials said that the 10th and 11th phases of the Malaria Mukt Chhattisgarh campaign in 2024 focused on enhanced surveillance and focused treatment, which played a critical role in pushing the numbers down further. The state is conducting the campaign in alignment with guidelines from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Malaria in Chhattisgarh is primarily concentrated in the tribal and forested districts, especially in Bastar division, due to dense forest cover, remote habitations, poor healthcare access, and favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The situation would get tense mostly when a number of security jawans would fall ill or succumb to malaria, after venturing out in forests during monsoon. Frequent incidents of malaria cases among jawans spotlighted the vulnerability of frontline forces and triggered a renewed push for preventive screenings and stricter bed-net enforcement among the troops. CM Sai said that it was a result of community-driven action, consistent fieldwork of health workers, Mitanins, and medical staff. Health minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal said that the target is to get all districts of Chhattisgarh malaria-free, and sustained efforts are underway to realize this goal. He noted that activities such as distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, door-to-door testing, rapid treatment, and community awareness have been key drivers of this progress.
