The number of dengue fever cases in Sri Lanka continue to mount as some 10,000 additional cases have been reported in the past week.
Through Wednesday, the country case count has climbed to 89,885, up from 80,000 last Thursday.
In the capital city of Colombo, the cases have topped 20,000 as of today, by far the most of any district in the country.
In December 2015, Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi announced the first country (Mexico) to approve their dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia.
Since then, some 17 countries have approved the vaccine. However, in Sri Lanka, officials say more research is required prior to introduction into the population.
According to a Daily Mirror report, Dengue Eradication Unit’s Community Specialist Dr. Priscilla Samaraweera said the vaccine had several minor issues when it was in the process of being introduced earlier in Sri Lanka.
GMOA Secretary Haritha Aluthge said this particular company needed to get the approval of the Epidemiology Unit and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) to introduce such a vaccine.
“Introduction of this vaccine to Sri Lanka should be carried out on a scientific basis. It is also necessary to consider the results of the trial sessions before it is approved,” he said.
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