A new vaccine could vanquish a major cause of deadly diarrheal disease
Researchers have developed a new vaccine candidate, WRSs2, that showed 89% effectiveness in preventing shigellosis, a major cause of diarrheal death. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, offers hope for addressing a disease that kills over 1 million people annually, particularly children.
Why it matters
Diarrheal diseases remain a leading cause of global mortality, and this vaccine could significantly reduce childhood deaths in vulnerable regions.
Diarrhea has been a headline story in the United States this summer, with thousands of cases of explosive diarrhea traced to Cyclospora from tainted lettuce –- and the first two deaths from the outbreak now confirmed in Michigan.
In other parts of the world, diarrhea is a constant — and deadly — threat. Over 1 million people die from diarrheal illness such as dysentery every year. Nearly half of them are children under age 5. Chad has the highest rate of childhood deaths: roughly 1 in 140 children under 5 die each year.
In the world of public health, however, the disease often does not get the attention it deserves. It's because of what researchers call the "poo taboo" –- people just aren't comfortable talking about diarrhea.
Now a vaccine candidate offers a new hope.
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