There are currently three previously approved oral cholera vaccines. Image: Shutterstock
Indian vaccine maker Bharat Biotech said Tuesday its Phase 3 trials of an oral cholera vaccine have shown it is safe for public use and announced a global rollout amid supply shortages and a spreading outbreak.
The company, which developed Hillchol under license from Singapore-based Hilleman Laboratories, said it is launching the vaccine with the capacity to produce 200 million doses.
Bharat Biotech said in a statement that it plans to meet a global shortfall of 40 million doses per year through Hillchol, which can be administered to people over the age of one.
The WHO said in June that 249,793 cholera cases and 2,137 deaths were reported in 25 countries in the first six months of the year, compared with 166,442 cases and 69 deaths during the same period in 2023.
The WHO also said 17 countries have requested 102 million doses of oral cholera vaccine since the beginning of 2023, almost double the 51 million doses produced during this period.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection that is transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water. While it usually causes mild or no symptoms, severe cases cause acute diarrhea and can kill within hours if left untreated.
Clean water, hygiene and proper sanitation are key to stopping the spread of the disease, according to the WHO.
There are currently three pre-approved oral cholera vaccines, the UN agency said earlier.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First published: August 27, 2024 | 1:44 PM IS
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