Medical expert of the article
New publications
Delhi scientists develop vaccine against rotavirus infection
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.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 Indian University reported the invention of a new vaccine that will help in the fight against rotavirus infectious diseases. The cost of the vaccine is important: according to medical forecasts, it 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 caused by rotaviruses (one of the varieties of the enveloped virus from the reovirus family. The name "rotavirus" is associated with the special shape of the virus: it looks like a wheel with a clearly defined ring-rim).
The disease is dangerous to human health, especially to the health of children under 10 years old. Statistics show that rotavirus infection kills more than 500,000 children worldwide every year. The greatest prevalence of rotavirus infectious diseases is observed in Asian and African countries. The infection is instantly transmitted in everyday life.
A feature of rotaviruses is their good tolerance to low temperatures, 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 has suffered from rotavirus infection.
Experts from India claim that they are currently on the verge of discovering a new vaccine that will be able to protect against diseases caused by rotaviruses. The head of the study said that the necessary tests that should have confirmed the effectiveness of the drug have already been conducted and in the near future, a new drug will be available on the shelves of pharmacies around the world. Indian scientists focus on the cost of the drug: according to preliminary data, the cost of the drug will be equal to one US dollar, which will make the drug available in all countries of the world. At the moment, several analogues of this vaccine are known, but their cost is significantly higher (if the Indian drug will cost about 1 dollar, then European drugs will cost at least 17-18).
The study's leader believes that the discovery is a major breakthrough in Asian medicine. In India alone, rotavirus infections kill about 100,000 young children every year.
The disease is considered a childhood disease, since the body of an adult person tolerates infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract more resiliently. In an adult and even in a teenager, the disease is usually accompanied by a mild intestinal disorder, so adults often do not even suspect an infectious disease. The disease is contagious, so if a child is sick in the family, you can be sure that all family members will be infected, despite the fact that in adults the disease can be painless and asymptomatic.
Indian scientists said that the mass production of the new vaccine will be ready in 8-9 months, after all necessary registrations have been completed.
[