As reported in the New York Times, yesterday marked the first marketing approval of a dengue virus vaccine, one called “Dengvaxia”, previously referred to as CYD-TDV, produced by Sanofi Pasteur, and approved for use in Mexico in 9- to 45-year olds. Dengue virus is an emerging (perhaps “formerly” neglected) arbiviral pathogen, comprised of four serotypes and transmitted by the mosquito species Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It may result in clinical illness including dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), or dengue shock syndrome (DSS), with an estimated 22,000 deaths annually. Mathematical modeling has played a role in making policy recommendations regarding vaccination. The protection offered by this vaccine has been under debate by the research and public health community, due to the variability in outcomes and effect of pre-vaccination immune status, following the publication of clinical trial results, so it will be of interest to keep following how this plays out in Mexico.

Learn more about dengue vaccines at DengueVaccines.org.