India’s first indigenously developed gE deleted DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) marker vaccine against Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) has been launched by Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) in Anand, Gujarat.
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), caused by the Bovine Herpes Virus (BHV-1), is a contagious disease that spreads through aerosols and infected semen. It leads to infertility, abortions, and a drop in milk productivity. With over 32% incidence in India and an estimated annual loss of Rs 18,000 crore, the disease has been a persistent threat to the country’s dairy sector. Until now, no vaccine was available in India, and there was no specific treatment.
The newly developed vaccine, branded as Raksha-IBR™, is expected to provide long-awaited relief to millions of farmers and livestock, strengthening the nation’s dairy industry.
The vaccine was unveiled on 27 September during the diamond jubilee celebrations of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), in the presence of Narendra Pal Gangwar, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. Meenesh C Shah, Chairman, NDDB, Dr. K Anand Kumar, MD of IIL, and several eminent experts from the dairy sectorIndustry Reactions.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. K Anand Kumar, MD of IIL, said, “India is the largest producer of milk in the world, but sustaining this growth requires better productivity. Superior genetics in bulls can improve output, but these efforts are threatened by the IBR virus. With years of research in collaboration with NDDB, we are proud to introduce India’s first IBR vaccine, ensuring healthier herds and stronger productivity for farmers.”
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