Race against time to develop a vaccine, as Zika continues to pose threat

Though Brazil declared its zika health emergency over, the race for a vaccine against the mosquito-transmitted disease is continuing. In India, vaccine major Bharat Biotech has sought government approval for phase-1 safety trials on humans.

New Delhi: Zika is no longer a public health emergency after cases went down in Brazil, but the mosquito-borne viral disease is here to stay, warns World Health Organisation (WHO).

To be ready for future outbreaks, vaccine manufacturers in different parts of the world are continuing to develop a vaccine that prevents spread of the Zika Virus Disease.

Indian vaccine maker, Bharat Biotech International Ltd., has reportedly sought government approval to begin phase-1 trials of its vaccine candidate, Zikavac, after successfully completing the requisite pre-clinical toxicology studies in animals.