‘Hope for TB vaccine in 5 yrs’

A vaccine for tuberculosis may be a reality in five years if trials that are being carried out in South Africa are successful, a German professor said at an event on Wednesday. But the situation is not as hopeful when it comes to HIV/AIDS, he added.

A vaccine for tuberculosis may be a reality in five years if trials that are being carried out in South Africa are successful, a German professor said at an event on Wednesday. But the situation is not as hopeful when it comes to HIV/AIDS, he added.

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“We are hopeful of a vaccine for Malaria and TB in the next five years, whereas things don’t look positive for HIV/AIDS,” said Stefan Kauffman, who has been responsible for several scientific innovations in the treatment of TB.

At least 1.8 million people are affected by TB each year in India, making the country the largest hub of the killer disease.

Also at the event was NK Mehra, who had led an AIIMS team which showed the risk of TB developing among infected individuals depends largely on immune responses and genes.