Leading the global fight against Dengue Fever

The Novartis Foundation Symposium brought together the world's leading Dengue and flaviviral diseases researchers to discuss solutions to control the growing incidence of Dengue Fever, which puts nearly a third of the world's population at risk.

September 30, 2005 - The global prevalence of flaviviral diseases - viruses transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks - such as Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) have risen dramatically in the last twenty years. The Dengue virus alone puts nearly a third of the world's population at risk of infection, and the average fatality rate for DHF is five percent.

Dengue Fever, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, is characterized by the sudden onset of fever, lethargy, painful headaches, eye, joint, and muscle pain and vomiting, leading to the nickname "break-bone fever". Since 1986, the incidence of Dengue has quadrupled and is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, and serious outbreaks can be found in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Epidemics are most common in areas lacking effective mosquito control and where there is inadequate water, sewage, and waste management. The big challenge is that there are currently no vaccines or a cure for dengue diseases.

Symposium participants discussed the structure and function of the Dengue virus and the targeting of virus proteins by potential antiviral agents. In addition, they examined the cause and development of the virus in order to have a clearer picture of events that lead to DHF, which can in a small number of cases cause death in young patients especially in developing countries. The small group format of this meeting allowed participants to critically evaluate the proposed new treatment strategies and the results of these discussions will be later published.

Following this symposium, the NITD jointly hosted the second Asian Regional Dengue Research Network Meeting, with the 'Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative' group; thus maximizing the benefit of the presence of the experts gathered in Singapore. Close to 300 participants from countries in the Asian Region, together with participants from North and South America, Europe, Japan and Australia, gathered for the event.

Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD)