India is in the process of developing its first vaccine for Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly referred to as monkey fever, through a collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Immunological Ltd. This tick-borne illness affects both monkeys and humans and currently has no cure. The vaccine is presently undergoing preclinical testing.
The initiative to create this vaccine was prompted by a request from the Karnataka government, following the disease’s spread from the Kyasanur forest to neighboring states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, the director general of ICMR, stated that the vaccine is primarily intended for individuals living in forested areas and those who interact with monkeys, the primary hosts of the disease.
Dr. Althaf, an epidemiologist and professor of Community Medicine at Government Medical College, Trivandrum, emphasized the importance of robust animal surveillance and a comprehensive One Health strategy to control the infection’s spread. He noted that KFD is a zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat, with outbreaks occurring regularly in the Western Ghats. The vaccine will require two doses, with the second dose administered 6-9 months after the first.
Previously, a KFD vaccine developed by a Bengaluru-based company was discontinued due to low immunogenicity and insufficient data. An ICMR spokesperson confirmed that the earlier vaccine was halted because it demonstrated no efficacy and was not produced under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions. In light of this, India has mandated that all pharmaceutical companies adhere to WHO GMP compliance to ensure the quality and safety of drugs and vaccines.
KFD primarily affects monkeys, and when these animals succumb to the disease, humans who handle their carcasses can become infected through bites from ticks that infest the monkeys. Additionally, individuals who visit or live near forested areas are at risk due to their proximity to these ticks. The vaccine candidate is currently in preclinical testing.
