After Brazil, Mexico and the Philippines, is Reunion next on the list? The vaccine against dengue fever developed by the Sanofi laboratory could soon be made available to Reunionese, according to the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine. “This vaccine is not yet accessible in France but if the situation requires it, we will examine the conditions for an early availability of this vaccine in Reunion.“, she announced before the National Assembly on May 4, 2016.
An intensification of dengue fever on the island of Reunion
The Dengvaxia® vaccine would indeed make it possible to “prevent eight out of 10 dengue-related hospitalizations, and up to 93% of severe dengue cases, including a rare but life-threatening form called dengue hemorrhagic fever“, announced Sanofi in a press release in April 2016.
Since the end of 2015, the Indian Ocean Regional Health Agency (ARS) has confirmed 146 cases of dengue on Bourbon Island, with a recent intensification of circulation of the virus. Indeed, for the single week of April 25 to May 1, 2016, the ARS recorded 26 new cases of dengue fever. The Minister of Health specified that a prevention campaign aimed at the population is underway and that since the beginning of 2016, 6,000 home visits aimed at helping individuals to combat the dengue virus have been effected.
Dengue fever is a tropical infectious disease is transmitted by the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. It is manifested by high fever, headaches, nausea, joint and muscle pain and skin rashes. In children and adolescents, severe dengue can lead to a risk of death.
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