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India's first field study of dengue vaccine (Qdenga) and mosquito repellents begins at Kadayanallur: Minister Arunraj

18-10-2026 · English

India's first field study of dengue vaccine (Qdenga) and mosquito repellents begins at Kadayanallur: Minister Arunraj

Topics: Health · 18 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

At an event at the Kadayanallur Government General Hospital, Tenkasi district, on 17 Oct 2026, Medical, Medical Education and Public Welfare Minister K.G. Arunraj launched India's first field study on dengue vaccination and mosquito repellents. It is not a mass vaccination rollout but a pilot study with voluntary, written consent. ICMR's National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai, is conducting it with the Tamil Nadu Public Health Department in the 33 wards of Kadayanallur municipality. Japan's Takeda vaccine 'Qdenga' will be used, and skin-applied creams and electric liquid repellents will also be tested. Results go to NTAGI; any statewide expansion depends on its advice.

Key facts

Date, place17 Oct 2026 – Kadayanallur Govt General Hospital, Tenkasi district
Announced byMinister K.G. Arunraj (Health & Family Welfare)
NaturePilot field study – voluntary, written consent, ethics approval
Conducted byICMR–NIE (Chennai) + TN Public Health Dept; 33 wards of Kadayanallur municipality
VaccineQdenga – Takeda (Japan); all 4 serotypes; 2 doses 3 months apart; CDSCO approval July 2026 (age 4–60)
RepellentsSkin creams, electric liquid vaporisers – tested for reduction in lab-confirmed dengue

Background

  • Science: dengue is caused by a flavivirus (family Flaviviridae, an RNA virus) with 4 serotypes, DENV-1 to DENV-4. A second infection with a different serotype raises the risk of severe dengue. Symptoms: high fever, body pain, falling platelets. There is no specific drug.
  • Vector: female Aedes aegypti (also Aedes albopictus) – a day-biter that breeds in stored clean water. The same mosquito spreads chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever.
  • India: National Dengue Day – 16 May. Dengue control – National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC), Health Ministry. Phase-3 trial of the indigenous vaccine 'DengiAll' (ICMR, Panacea Biotec) began in 2024.
  • Qdenga – a live attenuated tetravalent vaccine; licensed in 40+ countries; WHO-prequalified (May 2024). Indian manufacturing partner – Biological E (Hyderabad).

Tamil Nadu link: ICMR–NIE is in Chennai. India's first State public health law – the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939; Tamil Nadu has a separate Directorate of Public Health. Kadayanallur, which recently saw a dengue outbreak with deaths, was chosen for the study.

Source: Daily Thanthi, Seithisaral, 17 Oct 2026; Dinamalar (Kadayanallur dengue); The South First (Qdenga)

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