Dengue Fever, COVID-19 Prevention Effect? ... Duke University Researchers Suggest Possible Cross Immunity

Brazil, Areas with Low COVID-19 Spread Show Dengue Fever Outbreak
Possible Immune Interaction Between Dengue Fever and COVID-19 Suggested
If Correlation Confirmed, Safe Dengue Fever Vaccine Could Be Used for COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] A study has suggested that people who have contracted dengue fever or received a dengue vaccine might have similar immune functions against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). If this is scientifically proven, the dengue vaccine, which has already been confirmed safe, could potentially be used for COVID-19 prevention purposes.

Dengue Fever Mosquito

According to major foreign media on the 21st (local time), researchers at Duke University in the United States found a correlation by comparing COVID-19 outbreak areas in Brazil with past dengue fever outbreak areas in Brazil. Brazil is the third country in the world with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and has already experienced nationwide spread. However, there are differences in infection rates by region, with areas having fewer COVID-19 infections or slower increases being regions where dengue fever outbreaks occurred last year or this year.

Professor Miguel Nicolelis and his team at Duke University Medical Center stated, "It is possible to consider immune cross-reactivity between Flavivirus serotypes and SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19," adding, "If this is true, individuals who have previously contracted dengue fever or have been vaccinated with a dengue vaccine proven safe and effective could expect some level of COVID-19 preventive effect."

Professor Nicolelis said, "There have been cases where people who had not contracted COVID-19 but possessed dengue antibodies showed positive COVID-19 results in serological tests," indicating "there may be immunological interactions between the two viruses." He added, "This was something no one could have predicted because these are completely different viruses," and emphasized, "Further research is needed to verify the relationship between the two viruses."

The results of this study were released on the medical preprint site 'medRxiv' ahead of peer review.