China Launches First Hepatitis E Vaccine

A new vaccine against a viral condition that infects an estimated 20 million of the world's residents every single year has been launched in China. Named ‘Hecolin', it's reportedly the first ever Hepatitis E vaccine and its launch comes after the SFDA - China's State Food and Drug Administration - spent more than 12 months assessing the product. Hepatitis E is a viral hepatitis (liver inflammation) caused by infection with a virus called hepatitis E virus (HEV). The incidence of hepatitis E is highest in juveniles and adults between the ages of 15 and 40. Hepatitis E prevails many nations, especially in those with warm climates. Rarely directly transmitted from person-to-person, it is typically spread through contaminated food and water supplies.