Vaccination against dengue among humans can significantly boost Zika transmission among the population.
- Outbreaks of dengue and Zika are increasing worldwide.
- More than a third of the world's population live in areas where dengue is endemic and cases of co-infection with Zika have already been reported.
- Recent research shows that vaccinations for dengue increase the number of people contracting Zika.
- This is because dengue virus antibodies can enhance the Zika virus infection.
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Dengue can be easily prevented and managed if you follow proper precautionary measures. Here we give you the most important dos and don’ts for dengue fever.
‘The most effective way to minimize the unintended effect of dengue vaccinations on Zika outbreaks is through an integrated strategy that includes mosquito control.’
In some Asian and Latin American countries, severe dengue is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children. Whereas the outbreaks of Zika have occurred in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and has been linked to microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The study, Implication of vaccination against dengue for Zika outbreak, published in the journal Scientific Reports, identifies a potentially serious public health concern.
Zika Fever - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Zika virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes which causes mild fever with maculopapular rash. No treatment or vaccine is currently available.
Zika virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes which causes mild fever with maculopapular rash. No treatment or vaccine is currently available.
As dengue and Zika are both part of the Flaviviridae family transmitted through a common mosquito host, the researchers wanted to know how vaccinating for one would affect the incidence of the other.
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Zika virus infection during pregnancy is associated with intrauterine central nervous system infection, congenital malformations, and foetal death.
Zika virus infection during pregnancy is associated with intrauterine central nervous system infection, congenital malformations, and foetal death.
"Recent evidence suggests that dengue virus antibodies can enhance the Zika virus infection. For that reason, we developed a new math model to investigate the effect of dengue vaccination on Zika outbreaks," Wu said.
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Municipal corporation has been asked to clean up garbage dumps and take out drainage plugs while hospitals have been asked to stock adequate dengue medication.
Municipal corporation has been asked to clean up garbage dumps and take out drainage plugs while hospitals have been asked to stock adequate dengue medication.
It also showed that the more people in a particular population that are vaccinated against dengue, the earlier and larger the Zika outbreak.
The research also found that the most effective way to minimize the unintended effect of dengue vaccinations on Zika outbreaks is through an integrated strategy that includes mosquito control.
"We concluded that vaccination against dengue among humans can significantly boost Zika transmission among the population and hence call for further study on integrated control measures on controlling dengue and Zika outbreak," Yanni Xiao, Professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University in China, said.
The researchers noted that their findings do not discourage the development and promotion of dengue vaccine products, however, more work needs to be done to understand how to optimize dengue vaccination programs and minimize the risk of Zika outbreaks.
Although vaccines for dengue have been developed and are in use, there is currently no vaccine for Zika.
Source-Medindia
