- Why in news
- On 7 February 2026, the Ministry of Health said ICMR is advancing an improved Kyasanur Forest Disease vaccine. A Phase I human trial has begun after CDSCO approval.
- What it is
- Kyasanur Forest Disease is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever found in the Western Ghats. It was first identified in 1957 in Karnataka's Shivamogga district. The virus belongs to the flavivirus family, and monkeys and small mammals act as hosts.
- Vaccine type
- A fully indigenous, two-dose adjuvanted inactivated vaccine, with doses 28 days apart.
- Developers
- ICMR-NIV and Indian Immunologicals Limited are developing it, at the request of the Karnataka government.
- Stage
- Animal challenge and toxicity studies are complete. Phase I human trial has started with CDSCO approval.
- Next step
- If Phase I succeeds, further trials follow, and CDSCO approval is sought if the vaccine is safe and immunogenic.
- Disease cause
- KFD is caused by the KFD virus, a flavivirus spread by ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera).
Don’t confuse with Inactivated vs live attenuated vaccine: An inactivated vaccine uses killed virus and usually needs multiple doses plus an adjuvant. A live attenuated vaccine uses weakened live virus.
Don’t confuse with CDSCO vs ICMR: CDSCO is the drug regulator that approves trials and marketing. ICMR is the research body that develops and funds research.
Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.
Why it matters
- An indigenous vaccine can protect forest-fringe communities in the Western Ghats from a regional disease.
- It shows a state-ICMR-industry partnership for neglected regional diseases.
Problems
- Phase I only tests safety, so efficacy and durability are not yet known.
- The disease is regional with a small market, and reaching remote forest villages for two doses is hard.
Way forward
- Complete later trial phases rigorously and seek CDSCO approval only on safety and immunogenicity data.
- Combine vaccination with tick control, surveillance and awareness in affected districts.
Put in your answer
Vaccine development pathway: The KFD vaccine follows the standard path of animal studies, toxicity studies, GLP-grade material, Phase I trial and CDSCO approval.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: A lasting health topic: ICMR, IIL and NIV are developing an indigenous two-dose inactivated vaccine, now in Phase I trial. Facts are few, so a question is unlikely.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.