Kyasanur Forest Disease - How far is a regulatory approved vaccine?

Dr Priyabrata Pattnaik, Former Deputy MD, Indian Immunologicals, informs about the Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a zoonotic viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to parts of India, particularly along the Western Ghats and discusses the current status of developing a regulatory-approved KFD vaccine in India

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Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever endemic to parts of India, particularly in Karnataka and neighboring states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Goa, along the Western Ghats. The KFD virus belongs to the Flavivirus genus within the Flaviviridae family. Its vectors commonly include Haemaphysalis spinigera, Dermacentor, and Ixodes ticks. The disease, also known as “monkey fever,” has a fatality rate of three to five per cent. Developing a more effective vaccine is therefore critical for public health.¹,²

A regulatory-approved KFD vaccine for humans is still several years away. While an older, formalin-inactivated vaccine existed (not formally approved by Indian authorities), it demonstrated limited efficacy and has been discontinued³. The new and more promising vaccine candidate is being developed by Indian Immunologicals (Hyderabad) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.