As dengue surges globally, an Indian vaccine candidate has entered the final stage of testing, raising hopes for one of the world¡¯s first single-dose shots against the deadly mosquito-borne disease.

Dengue, which causes severe flu-like symptoms and debilitating body aches, has exploded globally, fueled by rising temperatures and densely populated cities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that almost half the world¡¯s population is now at risk, with 100-400 million infections every year. India alone has recorded over 1 million cases and at least 1,500 deaths since 2021.