Scientists from Delhi developed a vaccine against rotavirus infection
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Specialists from the University of India reported on the invention of a new vaccine, which will help in the fight against rotavirus infectious diseases. Important is the cost of the vaccine: according to medical forecasts, this will be one of the cheapest modern drugs that will be available to many.
Rotavirus infection, also called intestinal flu, is a dangerous disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which is caused by rotaviruses (one of the variants of the envelope virus from the family of reoviruses.) The name "rotavirus" is associated with a special form of the virus: outwardly it resembles a wheel with a clearly defined ring-rim) .
The disease is dangerous for human health, especially for the health of children under 10 years old. Statistics show that a rotavirus infection kills more than 500,000 children every year throughout the world. The greatest prevalence of rotavirus infectious diseases has been observed in Asian countries and in African countries. Infection is instantly transmitted in the home.
A special feature of rotaviruses is the good tolerability of low temperature, so the disease is often found in cold regions. The virus is transmitted mainly alimentary, with the help of various transmission factors. Almost every child aged 2 to 6 years suffered rotavirus infection.
Experts from India claim that at the moment they are on the verge of opening a new vaccine, which can protect against diseases caused by rotaviruses. The head of the study said that the necessary tests, which were to confirm the effectiveness of the drug, have already been carried out and in the near future on the shelves of drugstores around the world one can see a new medicine. Indian scientists focus on the cost of the drug: according to preliminary data, the cost of the medicine will be equal to one US dollar, which will make the drug available in all countries of the world. To date, there are several analogues of this vaccine, but their cost is much higher (if the Indian drug will cost about 1 dollar, then preparations of European production - not less than 17-18).
The head of the study believes that this discovery is a serious breakthrough in Asian medicine. In India alone, rotavirus infectious diseases cause about 100,000 small children every year.
The disease is considered childish, as the adult organism tolerates more infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In an adult and even a teenager, the disease is usually accompanied by a weak intestinal disorder, so adults often do not even know about the infectious disease. The disease is contagious, so if a child is sick in the family, you can be sure that all members of the family will be infected, despite the fact that in adults the disease can be painless and asymptomatic.
Indian scientists said that the launch of mass production of a new vaccine will be ready in 8-9 months, after passing all the necessary registrations.
[