Recent patents in dengue disease management

Dengue, an illness caused by four serotypes of the dengue virus is most prevalent in Asia and Latin America. Its manifestation varies from asymptomatic cases to severe forms and even deaths and is a growing health concern. Despite attempts to curtail it, the infection continues to intensify in endemic areas and spread to new areas of the world. Development of a safe and effective vaccine and a potent antiviral drug is ongoing but so far there has been no breakthrough. Nonetheless, researchers are carrying out studies with newer vaccine candidates and antiviral moieties, and some of these hold promise for the future. The current article describes the recent patents targeted at dengue control.