Trials of indigenously developed Zika vaccine to be conducted soon
Yes, we are in dialogue with Bharat Biotech, but the approval is not in place yet. It has to go through the drug controller too.
DR BALRAM BHARGAVA, DG ICMR
NEWDELHI: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will soon undertake trials of the indigenously developed vaccine against Zika virus, cases of which have been reported in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The ICMR will undertake phase-ii trial of the vaccine to establish the efficacy and safety of the vaccine along with its adverse effects, a senior official said.
Vaccines manufacturer, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, has developed a vaccine, which they claim will provide protection against infection caused by an Asian Zika virus strain as well as by the African Zika virus strain, the official said.
“The company had developed the vaccine around two years ago. At that time we did not have an outbreak of Zika in India as it was only restricted to Latin America. “Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mos- quito and also there is a breakout in some states. Vector control is one of the most challenging work. Thus the vaccine, if its efficacy is proved, is a better strategy,” the official said.
The process for regulatory approvals to carry out the trial will be initiated soon, he informed.
“Yes, we are in dialogue with Bharat Biotech, but the approval is not in place yet. It has to go through the drug controller too. In any case, the trial will happen only next year. This year, the cases are almost over,” said Dr Balram Bhargava, director general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Two persons, who tested positive for the Zika virus, died in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal district while the number of people suffering from the disease has crossed 120 in the state.
The deceased -- an 18-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman -were suffering from the virus and other “serious” diseases. Therefore, it cannot be said they died due to Zika , officials had clarified.
The virus has infected 127 people, out of which 40 are pregnant women, the officials said.
People have tested positive for the Zika virus in seven districts of Madhya Pradesh. This includes 44 cases reported from Bhopal, 20 from Sehore, 29 from Vidisha, two each from Sagar and Hoshangabad, and one each from Narsinghpur and Raisen.
A central team is reviewing the situation and assisting the Madhya Pradesh government to replicate measures and the action plan implemented in Jaipur and Ahmedabad to contain the disease, the senior official said. BAHRAICH: Police on Sunday arrested former MLA Dilip Kumar Verma for allegedly thrashing tehsildar Madhusodan Arya and circle officer, Nanpara, Vijay Prakash Singh on Friday.
Verma was in the Samajwadi Party when he was MLA twice. At present he is in the BJP.
According to police officials, Dilip Verma, who is husband of BJP MLA from Nanpara, Madhuri Verma, was produced before the judicial magistrate, who remanded him to 14-day judicial custody.
The former MLA told media persons while being taken to the magistrate court that all cases registered against him were baseless.
Verma was arrested on Saturday night by Jarwal Road police while he was fleeing to Lucknow. On being arrested, he immediately complained of having high blood pressure.