Australian scientists developing dengue fever vaccine

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Scientists are confident the vaccine will protect people from all four strains of the mosquito-spread disease. [Reuters]

Last Updated: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 20:04:00 +1100

An Australian-based drug company says it's confident that a dengue fever vaccine it's developing will protect people against all four strains of the mosquito-borne disease.

The company has spent 10 years developing the vaccine with scientists in Hawaii.

Dr William Ardrey says they've used the latest vaccine technology to isolate and replicate a protein in the dengue virus which prompts the body to develop an immunity to the virus.

"We're just taking out the good bits that can challenge the immune system without having to deal with the whole infectious virus," he says.

Dr Ardrey says he is confident the vaccine will protect people from all four strains of the disease.

The company's working with Professor Ian Frazer, who created the cervical cancer vaccine, and hopes to get the vaccine into the market in the next two to four years.

The first human trials will start in the United States soon.

Malaria coalition

The announcement comes as a group of ten countries - including Australia, South Korea and China - have formed a network to develop strategies to rid the region of another disease spread by mosquitoes, malaria.

Specialists from the network are meeting in the north-eastern Australian city of Brisbane with the aim of developing strategies to eradicate the disease.

Network co-ordinator Sir Richard Feachem says if practical ways are used to stamp out the disease, about four million deaths could be prevented in the next six years.

"One [solution] is the long lasting insecticide treated bed nets and they're trying to get [every family] using the treated bed nets.

"Secondly, [there is the option of] the spraying of a thin film of insecticide on the interior wall of the houses in the malaria hot spots."