Indian Biotech Companies supports WHO's 'End Cholera' Initiative

Cholera, an acute, infectious bacterial disease outspread due to water contaminated by bacteria, Vibrio Cholerae. If Cholera is left untreated, it can be fatal after severe diarrhoea and dehydration. Cholera is a poverty-related disease. According to WHO, there are roughly 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of Cholera, and globally, 21,000 to 1,43,000 deaths have been estimated every year. This diarrhoeal infection is endemic in South Asia and Africa. 

In India, about 375 million people remain at risk, which is 30 per cent of the population. States like Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal were reported with Cholera cases at least three out of five consecutive years and are defined as cholera endemic states. 

The disease remains a less recognized public health issue in several parts of India. The states having the highest number of reported outbreaks of Cholera in the past years are West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Kerala. In a single year (2011–2012), nine states sent strains of V. cholerae to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Disease, Kolkata. 

As the disease causes dehydration, the severity of cholera can be prevented with inexpensive rehydration solution, electrolyte replacement, both oral and intravenous along with prescribed antibiotics. 

A global strategy on cholera control with a target to reduce cholera deaths by 90% was launched in 2017 by the World Health Organization. The WHO recommends the use of oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) in association with control measures like the provision of safe water and sanitation both for routine preventive use in high endemic settings and for intervention during cholera epidemics. 

Deployment of oral Cholera vaccines (OCVs) is an essential public health component of comprehensive Cholera prevention and control, recommended by the WHO and an element of its ‘End Cholera’ initiative. 

Dr Davinder Gill Chief Executive Officer, Hilleman Laboratories said, “Staggering mortality and morbidity rate proves that the Indian population has a greater risk of Cholera. The biggest concern is addressing the issue of cholera in India. With this vision, we have worked on an oral cholera vaccine, Hillchol®. The first and second clinical trial was done in Bangladesh. We have worked on the initial clinical trials but now we are giving the license for the vaccine to Bharat Biotech for further research.” 

Talking about the expected outcome from this oral vaccine, Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman & Managing Director of Bharat Biotech International Limited said, “No poor child should die in the next 5 years, is what I am looking ahead. We will be targeting the State and the Central government to implement the usage of this vaccine in the endemic regions of India.”  

“Entire process, from research & development to clinical trials happened in India, are the biggest example of innovation in the vaccine areas which is relevant to the population of India” adds, Dr Gill. 

India has a great demand for vaccines for tackling such diseases. Initiatives like oral cholera vaccine by Indian laboratories are the awaited answers to it. But it can be improved by government’s collaboration with such laboratories to obtain a cure from the disease as an outcome.