Diarrhoea disease is a leading health problem in the developed countries. It has been estimated that 3-5 billion episodes of diarrhoea, resulting in approximately 4 million deaths, occur annually in developing countries. About half of these cases of diarrhoea are caused by bacteria. Cholera, resulting from Vibrio cholerae bacteria, is the most severe of these diseases, while infection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli (ETEC) causes the largest number of cases. ETEC is also the single most common cause of travellers' diarrhoea.

The total number of cholera cases in Bangladesh is uncertain because of the lack of surveillance system. However, the experts consider that 20-30% of diarrhoea is due to cholera.

As per the surveillance of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases, Bangladesh (ICDDRB), the cholera incidences are increasing year-on-year. ICDDRB observes that there are two peak seasons in each year for diarrhoea due to cholera pathogen. The first peak comes in the March-April, before the monsoon starts and the second peak is in the October-November, as the monsoon ends.

In the today's part of the world, vaccines are considered to be the appropriate tools for controlling Diarrhoea diseases caused by specific pathogens. Dukoral® invented by SBL vaccines company Limited is the only vaccine recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) against Cholera and ETEC. Dukoral® vaccine is now used more than 50 countries in the world.

Bangladesh being one of the endemic countries for diarrhoea, unfortunate enough, there are no vaccines available in our country. The irony of fact is, in 1985, the major phase III efficacy field trial of this WHO approved Dukoral® vaccine was conducted in our country with the collaboration of ICDDR,B in nearly 90,000 Bangladeshi volunteers.

Only started its journey in 2000 as the licensee of F. Hoffmann La-Roche Ltd, Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Limited sense the urgencies and registered the Dukoral® vaccine in our country through the Directorate of Drugs Administration, Bangladesh in collaboration with SBL, Sweden.

Dukoral is now available in all the leading vaccination centres in Bangladesh.

To get the Dukoral for vaccination or for any information
please call 01977 157072