New Delhi: India’s premier medical research agency has taken a major step forward in combating a stubborn tick-borne illness that affects communities in the Western Ghats. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched Phase I human clinical trials for an improved vaccine against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), health officials announced, underscoring sustained efforts to protect at-risk populations.
Kyasanur Forest Disease, often referred to as monkey fever, is a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks. It has long been a public health concern in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra, particularly among those living near forested regions. Symptoms can range from high fever and headache to severe muscle pain and gastrointestinal bleeding, and although many patients recover, the disease can be serious or fatal without supportive care.
The announcement on Saturday follows a request from the Karnataka government, which sought national support to develop a more effective and practical vaccine to enhance protection in endemic areas. In response, ICMR partnered with Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) and the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) to create a fully indigenous vaccine candidate tailored to local strains of the virus.
The vaccine, a two-dose adjuvanted inactivated formulation, is designed to be administered 28 days apart. Preclinical milestones including animal challenge and toxicity studies have been successfully completed, and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-grade vaccine material has been manufactured, paving the way for human testing.
With approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the Phase I trial has now commenced. This first-in-human study will primarily assess the vaccine’s safety and its ability to elicit an immune response in healthy adult volunteers. If the results are promising, the vaccine will progress to subsequent stages of evaluation.
Officials emphasized that positive outcomes in later trial phases could lead to broader regulatory submission and eventual licensure, bringing India closer to deploying a safer and more robust preventive tool against KFD. Given the seasonal nature of outbreaks and the disease’s incidence in forest edge communities, an effective vaccine could significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in these vulnerable populations.
The government’s push reflects a broader commitment to fostering indigenous solutions for endemic infectious diseases, strengthening national disease preparedness, and supporting state-level public health responses.
As research continues, local health authorities are also urging preventive measures such as tick avoidance and early medical consultation for symptoms consistent with KFD, especially during peak transmission periods in hilly and forested areas.