Balram Bhargava, Director-General of the Indian Council for Medical Research, said on Thursday that many businesses have done phase one trials of dengue vaccines abroad, and that the Health Ministry is planning more rigorous trials.
“Dengue vaccine is an important agenda. There are certain dengue strains that have been licensed to some companies in India,” said Bhargava during a weekly briefing of the COVID-19 situation in the country.
“Many of these companies have done their phase one trials abroad. We are planning to do more rigorous trials,” added Bhargava.
A spike in dengue cases was recorded in the national capital earlier on Wednesday. In the month of September, 149 instances of dengue fever were reported.
On September 18, the central government held a high-level meeting to discuss the growing threat of Serotype-2 dengue fever cases in 11 states.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba convened a high-level meeting with state/UT leaders via video conference to evaluate and discuss the COVID-19 management and reaction strategy.
