Sanofi`s dengue vaccine approved in 11 countries

By Reuters Staff

PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi Pasteur, Sanofi's vaccines unit, said on Tuesday that its dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, had received market approval in 11 countries.

To date the vaccine has been approved in Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Guatemala, Peru, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, the statement said.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by four virus serotypes (1 to 4) as categorised by the World Health Organisation.

Overall, the disease is seen as a threat to about half of the world's population. Some 400 million people are believed to be infected annually.