Pharmaceutical company Takeda will sell a dengue vaccine in Japan amid signs the disease has emerged there as more tourists arrive from destinations in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
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| Takeda's dengue vaccine is available in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe. (Source: Takeda Pharmaceuticals) |
Global warming is allowing mosquitoes to spread more widely. Mosquitoes carrying dengue fever are already present in Japan, and the risk of infection is increasing. At least one case of dengue fever in the country has had no history of overseas travel .
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 390 million people worldwide are infected with dengue fever each year. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain.
There is currently no effective treatment for the disease and in some cases it can be fatal.
WHO recommends the use of Takeda's dengue vaccine for children of certain ages. This is Japan's largest drugmaker and has applied for approval of its dengue vaccine in the US.
Additionally, the vaccine is available in Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe and elsewhere.
Takeda aims to produce 100 million doses of dengue vaccine per year, generating annual revenue of up to $2 billion worldwide . Currently, 80% of the global vaccine market is dominated by Western drugmakers.
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