Dengue Treatment Medicine: Microbiologist Marnix Van Look says that when high doses of the compound were given in monkeys, it completely blocked the replication of the virus.
If everything goes well, the treatment of dengue can be found soon.
Scientists engaged in the search for a cure for dengue ie bone-breaking fever can get great success soon. The initial trial conducted by the scientists on monkeys regarding this has been successful. Now if this trial is successful on humans, then soon the sure treatment of dengue will be in the hands of the doctors. Let us tell you that due to dengue, there can be very strong flu-like symptoms, which sometimes become so serious that they even die.
Dengue, spread by mosquitoes, engulfs millions of people around the world every year. This disease, which makes the body restless with fever, is also called ‘bone-breaking fever’. Many countries have declared it endemic. Even though two vaccines are available to prevent this, they do not have global recognition. However, after the successful trial on monkeys, now scientists have got a new hope.
Encouraging trial results
About two years ago, researchers showed in their research that a compound can effectively stop the spread of dengue virus in cell culture and in mice. This compound prevents the interaction between two such proteins. The team of researchers has now made this compound more effective. This is the compound, JNJ-1802.
This compound has been tested on rats and monkeys. Microbiologist Marnix Van Look at Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical company Janssen says that the trials on mice and monkeys have been successful and the results are encouraging.
virus replication blocked
Marnix Van Look says that when a high dose of the compound was given in monkeys, it completely blocked the replication of the virus. Viral RNA infection was detected within two to three days in controlled animals. Out of the four strains of dengue virus in monkeys, the two most prevalent strains were re-trialed. This time, instead of treatment, the ability of prevention was tested.
… because protection from all four breeds is necessary
According to experts, it was tested for both treatment and prevention in rats. This trial was done on all the four breeds. The results were positive. Since the four strains of the virus are different, infection with one strain does not automatically provide protection from the second, third or fourth strain. Instead the infection becomes more serious. Researchers have warned that hotter and more humid environments are more suitable for mosquitoes and due to this, the virus released by mosquitoes is more likely to spread.
Finding a cure is important
A vaccine named Dengvaxia is available but it is allowed to be used in only a few countries. It is effective against only one breed. At the same time, in December last year, the European Union had approved another vaccine named Cudenga, whose use has also been allowed by Britain and Indonesia.
Till now there is no suitable treatment available for dengue. That’s why all kinds of efforts are made at this time. These measures also include infecting mosquitoes with a bacteria. Although this cannot be a permanent solution. That’s why finding a cure is also very important. Researchers will have to present the safety data of the tests done so far before moving towards human trials.
