Science
by AFP Staff Writers
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (AFP) Nov 26, 2025
Brazilian authorities on Wednesday approved the world’s first single-dose dengue vaccine, which they hailed as a “historic” achievement as cases of the mosquito-borne disease soar globally due to rising temperatures.
Dengue, known for intense flu-like symptoms, crushing fatigue and body aches, reached record global levels in 2024 and researchers have attributed its spread to climate change.
Brazil’s health regulatory agency ANVISA authorized the use of Butantan-DV, developed by the Butantan Institute in S�o Paulo, for people aged 12 to 59.
Currently, the only dengue vaccine available worldwide is TAK-003, which requires two doses administered three months apart, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The single dose, developed after eight years of trials across Brazil, will allow for faster and simpler vaccination campaigns.
“This is a historic achievement for science and health in Brazil,” Esper Kallas, director of the Butantan Institute, a public research center, told a press conference in Sao Paulo.
“A disease that has plagued us for decades can now be fought with a very powerful weapon,” he added.
The new vaccine showed 91.6 percent efficacy against severe dengue during the clinical trials which involved more than 16,000 volunteers.
Dengue’s unpleasant symptoms have earned it the nickname “breakbone fever.” It can provoke hemorrhagic fever in severe cases, and death.
It is transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes, which have expanded beyond their usual areas, leading to dengue cases in Europe or parts of the United States where they were not typically found.
Globally, the WHO reported more than 14.6 million cases and almost 12,000 deaths in 2024, the highest number ever recorded.
Half of these deaths took place in Brazil.
Researchers at Stanford University in the United States published a study in 2024 estimating that global warming was responsible for 19 percent of dengue cases that year.
Brazil has reached an agreement with the Chinese company WuXi Biologics to deliver approximately 30 million doses of the vaccine in the second half of 2026, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha told the press conference.
Related Links
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 – Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled “by Staff Writers” include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report’s information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.