(3 hours ago) Friday, March 17, 2023, 5:36 pm
Researchers have found initial success in a new treatment effective against dengue. In the meantime, by conducting tests on monkeys and rats, they found that this treatment method works against the mosquito-borne disease. As a result, they have become hopeful that it will work in the human body as well. However, more time is needed to achieve success at the final stage.
This treatment is going to bring a radical change in the prevention of dengue as well as the treatment of the victims. Until now people were practically helpless in front of dengue. There was no option to prevent it. Due to the lack of treatment, dengue often takes the form of an epidemic in different countries of the world, including Bangladesh. So far, two vaccines have been discovered to prevent dengue virus, but the countries of the world are hesitant to approve them.
As a result, researchers have continued research on an effective treatment and prevention method for dengue. In continuation of that, a new treatment method is raising hope. Researchers reported two years ago that the chemical compound named ‘JNJ-1802’ prevented the spread of dengue in mice. This time it was also tested on monkey body.
And that is the success. As a result, there is hope that the medicine will work successfully in the human body as well.
The study is under the US-based multinational pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson. Marnix Ban Lock, head of its Emerging Pathogens Division, said the results of applying JNJ-1802 to monkeys were ‘very encouraging’. The compound was found to completely block the spread of the virus when applied at high doses. There are four types of dengue virus. Marnix Ban Lock said that JNJ-1802 was applied to the body of two types of infected monkeys. He said the compound was applied to the monkey’s body to prevent two types of virus, not to treat it. However, the compound has been used to prevent and treat four types of virus in mice. It has also been successful.
Usually when someone is infected with dengue, his body develops an immune system against the virus. However, many people have a weak immune system. As a result, they are at risk of getting infected with dengue again and again. And each time the symptoms of dengue appear more severe than before. As a result, a fear has also arisen with new treatment methods. Because, if JNJ-1802 is applied to those whose immune system is weak, they may be infected with dengue later. In that case, they will be subjected to more severe attacks. Therefore, the new treatment method is not being declared as a permanent solution against dengue. Researchers are continuing more extensive research on this.
