Shillong, Oct 20: Rise in dengue cases in India has become a major concern for public health officials. The country has experienced a significant increase in the number of dengue cases attributed to heavy rains and waterlogging in many areas.
According to a new study, Covid-19 antibodies may have been adding to the vector-borne disease’s severity.
The analysis titled ‘SARS-CoV-2 antibodies cross-react and enhance dengue infection’ has been done at the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) under the central government’s department of biotechnology; the yet-to-be peer-reviewed study has been published in bioRxiv, the preprint server for medical sciences.
“This study is the first to demonstrate that anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can cross-react with DENV-2 (dengue virus 2) and can enhance its infection through antibody- dependent enhancement (the ability of antibodies from a previous infection to help a virus infect greater numbers of cells than it would have on its own),” it said.
These findings have implications for SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development and deployment strategies in regions where dengue is endemic, it adds.
This study has been published on the preprint server for medical sciences, bioRxiv, but it is yet to be peer-reviewed.
It must be noted that dengue cases have surged across the country, including Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
Dengue symptoms include high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, a rash, and mild bleeding. In severe cases, it can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be life-threatening.
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