Results in Asian countries showing great promiseDengue fever vaccine in trials

A FOUR-in-one vaccine against dengue fever could be avail-able for the fi rst time as early as next year. The disease has put 1.8 billion people at risk in Asia alone.

Sanofi Pasteur, a unit of French fi rm Sa-nofi , said its vaccine is made from a live dengue virus. It is delivered under the skin. The vaccine is able to protect children against the four close-ly related viruses transmitted by the Aedes mosquito.

A late-stage trial involving 10,000 children aged two to 14 showed a signifi cant reduction of 56 percent of dengue cases, Sanofi an-nounced. The trial was done in Thailand (), Vietnam (), Malaysia (), the Philip-

pines () and Indonesia ().

The company is awaiting results of a similar trial on 20,000 children in several Latin American () countries.

It said initial safety data are consistent with the good safety profi le observed in ear-lier trials.

The government said last month that Hong Kong is at risk of an outbreak of dengue fever. It is because of climate change and an increase of the disease transmitted by mosquitoes in neighbouring countries.

A full analysis of the trial data will be un-dertaken in the coming weeks and reviewed by external experts.

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A dengue fever vaccine could be available next year, according to the vaccine makers. (Sing Tao Daily)

GlobalisationPersonal Development &Interpersonal Relationships thHong Kong Today

A French firm said it has made a four-in-one vaccine against dengue fever. The vaccine could be available for the first time next year at the earliest. Late-stage trials involving children aged two to 14 were carried out in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. The company is waiting for results of a similar trial on 20,000 children in several Latin American countries. It said initial safety data are consistent with the good safety profile.

Key Idea

P03 Text : Anvil Ong Photos : Sing Tao Daily

Choose the best answer:1M: a substance given to a person or animal to

prevent them from getting a disease

E: There is still no vaccine against HIV infection.

E: Vaccines were delivered to the fl ooded area to prevent the spread of diseases.

vaccine (n)

2M: pass something from one person to another

E: Mosquitoes can transmit dengue fever.

E: Cholera is transmitted through unclean water.

transmit (v)

3M: making something less or smaller

E: We notice huge price reductions in the property market.

E: There has been no noticeable reduction in traffi c after the new MTR line opened.

reduction (n)

4M: a test to see if something works and is safe

E: The new vaccine is undergoing a trial in different countries.

E: This is just a trial run. The real thing is tomorrow.

trial (n)

M: having the same opinions, standards, etc

E: We must be consistent in applying the rules.

E: There has been consistent improvement in his work.

consistent (adj) 6

5M: happening at the beginning

E: He made an initial payment of $5,000.

E: We had to deal with many problems in the initial stages.

initial (adj)

7M: see and notice

E: She observed that everyone in the room was wearing a hat.

E: We have to observe the details.

observe (v)

Vocabulary Reading ComprehensionM : Meaning E : Example

Answers on P12

Friday 2 May 2014

LS in a nutshell Learning Card

They usually have black and white stripes on their body and legs.

Are there any special features on Aedes mosquitoes?

A vaccine usually contains an agent similar to the disease-causing virus or bacteria, but weakened or killed. The agent stimulates the bodys immune system to recognise it as foreign, destroy it, and remember it, so that the system can more easily recognise and destroy any such viruses or bacteria that come later.

Knowledge

1. Why is the vaccine referred to as four-in-one?

A. it is only 25 percent effectiveB. it has to be applied every four yearsC. it is four times cheaper than the old

vaccineD. it can protect against four viruses

2. The late-stage trial of the vaccine was carried out in...

A. Thailand B. JapanC. Laos D. Cambodia

3. What has increased the risk of dengue fever in Hong Kong?

A. smartphones B. fatty foodC. climate changeD. tall buildings

4. Late-stage trials are also being carried out in...

A. several Latin American countriesB. AfricaC. Hong KongD. China

5. We are awaiting ____ a parcel from the US.

A. asB. forC. toD. no word is needed

6. Hong Kong should be prepared for an _____ of dengue fever.

A. happeningB. occurrenceC. repeatD. outbreak

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