Emetine for Viral Outbreaks (a.k.a. EVOLVE Antiviral Initiative)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 to 65 years
2. Admitted to the hospital
3. Laboratory-confirmed infection with dengue virus within the last 5 days and preferably within the last 3 days. Testing for dengue virus using positive Nonstructural protein 1(NS1) strip assay or reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
4. Having two or more clinical symptoms (fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, hemorrhagic manifestations, or leucopenia, gastrointestinal symptoms) with the onset of fever within 72 hours of presentation, and
5. Able to provide voluntary informed consent and comply with all study procedures and visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥65 years
2. Pregnant or breastfeeding
3. Current or recent use of the study drug
4. Known allergy to study drug
5. Current or planned participation in another pharmacological interventional trial in the next 10 days
6. Participants with known past history of dengue infection
7. Participants on aspirin, anticoagulants, or with other conditions that might increase the risk of bleeding
8. Participants on immunosuppressive agents, including long-term steroids
9. Severe dengue as defined by the WHO 2009 revised case classification.
10. Individuals with long-term immunosuppressive agents such as anti-cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the past 6 months, or those on systemic corticosteroid therapy
11. History of prior vaccination against dengue fever within one year.
12. Patients who have recently used ayurvedic or herbal medications for dengue or any other conditions in the last 7 days (eg, Papaya leaf extract)