Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

WHO approves a safe, inexpensive, effective typhoid vaccine

This could be a game changer.

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
January 4, 2018
in Diseases, Health, News

While this isn’t the first typhoid vaccine, it’s the most effective one — and it also works for children.

Image credits: Bharat Biotech.

Typhoid is an acute illness associated with fever. Caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria, it affects a whopping 20 million every year, killing 160,000 of them — mostly young children in developing countries. Aside from the fever, symptoms include abdominal pain, constipation, and severe headaches. Without treatment, symptoms can continue for weeks.

The disease used to be prevalent in America, but it’s now mostly found in Africa and Asia. It occurs predominantly in association with poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water.

As if the threat of typhoid wasn’t big enough, the need for an effective, affordable vaccine has risen dramatically as crowded slums emerge, especially in hot and wet climates. The CDC states that “without therapy, the illness may last for 3 to 4 weeks and death rates range between 12% and 30%.” Antibiotics do exist, but they’re expensive, and antibiotic-resistant strains have been on the rise. This is where vaccines can make a huge difference.

The new vaccine is called Typbar TCV, with TCV standing for Typhoid conjugate vaccine. It’s made by Bharat Biotech, a company from Hyderabad, India, and it can be purchased by governments as well as donors — including United Nations agencies. GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, has already announced that it has $85 million set aside for doses to be given to children starting next year.

Existing typhoid vaccines can prevent about 30% to 70% of cases during the first two years, having a diminished effect for up to seven years. Meanwhile, results, published in the Lancet last year show Tybpar TCV to be 87 percent effective and can also be administered to children over six months old. It also has longer-lasting immunity and costs as little as $1.5, when purchased for developing countries. Prices go down the more doses are purchased.

Researchers also expect the advent of vaccines to curb the use of antibiotics and thus make them more effective when they are necessary.

Interestingly, the vaccine received approval after a very unusual trial: about 100 healthy volunteers in Oxford, England, most of whom were medical students, agreed, to trial the vaccine on themselves, swallowing a hefty dose of live typhoid bacteria.

Research for this vaccine was funded by donors, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the Wellcome Trust. Around 300 people still get typhoid fever in the United States each year, mostly from tourists.

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. New vaccine is incredibly efficient at preventing typhoid
  2. Russian vaccine is safe, effective against COVID-19
  3. How we got a safe, effective vaccine in under one year — without cutting corners
  4. Inexpensive nano-camera takes 3D pictures
  5. Inexpensive, AI-driven MRI machines could revolutionize medical imaging
Tags: typhoid fevertyphus

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW