Takeda will develop Zika vaccine with money from the U.S.

Takeda, a pharmaceutical company from Japan, will receive 321 million dollars funding  from the United States government to develop a Zika Vaccine. They promised to start the trials next year, but it will take a lot of time before people will be able to use this vaccine. For the first trial, they will have 19,8 million dollars for research and vaccine manufacturing.

Zika has become a huge problem for all of us. Although it started in Brazil, now the virus is spread in more than 60 countries, such as the United States or Singapore. This year, the virus was declared a public health emergency of international concern. There was no treatment found and people were already worried because there are more infected people. The United States and Asia are already having a huge problem with  Zika and it will not be long until it will affect Europe. Takeda officials said that the Zika emergency demands action by governments, medical communities and all people who can make a change.

Takeda is also working with the Japanese Government to develop a treatment for influenza. Moreover,  they are working with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, hoping they will find  a cure for polio. Now that Zika is more than dangerous than ever, authorities are trying to find a treatment. However, there will be a long time before we will get the vaccine. That is why is important to pay attention to mosquitoes. Use insect repellent when you have to, wear long clothes if you know mosquitoes are closer and do not travel in countries where the virus is a major problem.

Zika vaccine will help pregnant women, who are at higher risk because of the virus. It can cause a birth defect that will make the child’s brain develop slower and he could have brain defects. The problem is that many people do not have symptoms in the first days. Although they discover the virus, there is no treatment for it. Takeda could be the hope many people wee waiting for. Do not forget that people are vulnerable to this virus no matter where they live. Even if in your country there was no case of Zika, someone who is infected could travel there. This is how the virus managed to spread.  In the future, we could be able to have a treatment for it and our children will be safe.

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