Vaccine shows protection against gonorrhea for first time: Scientists

Scientists from New Zealand for the first time have claimed that vaccine can protect against the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea. They have found that Men B jab vaccine originally developed to stop an outbreak of meningitis B can protect from gonorrhoea.

Key Facts

Scientists claim was based on analysis of vaccination data of about a million adolescents in New Zealand who were vaccinated by Men B jab vaccine between 2004 and 2006. They found that gonorrhoea cases had fallen by 31% in vaccinated adolescents. The bacterium that causes meningitis, Neisseria meningitidis, is a very close relative of the bacterium species Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes gonorrhoea. Thus, it appears the Men B jab vaccine is giving “cross-protection” against gonorrhoea.

Antibiotic resistance making gonorrhea difficult to treat

According to a new warning from the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance is making gonorrhea difficult to treat. . Therefore, developing a vaccine is urgently needed to stop global spread of super-gonorrhoea.

About Gonorrhoea

Gonorrhoea disease (also called the clap) is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It spreads by unprotected sex. Its symptoms include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods in case of in women. In many cases, no symptoms are seen at all. Untreated gonorrhoeae infection can lead to infertility in both genders, pelvic inflammatory disease in women and can be passed on to a child during pregnancy. According to WHO, about 78 million people pick up the sexually transmitted infection each year due to Gonorrhoea.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2017