EU Approves First Chikungunya Vaccine Amid Rising Climate Concerns

janimonow

June 2

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Europe's medicines watchdog has approved the continent's first vaccine against the mosquito-borne Chikungunya virus, amidst warnings that climate change could increase the disease's spread.

Chikungunya, or CHIK fever, is similar to Dengue or Zika and causes high fever and severe, often debilitating joint pain. Other symptoms include joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The EMA has granted marketing authorization for the vaccine, named Ixchiq and developed by Valneva Austria. This approval is the final step before the vaccine can be used by the European Commission. Ixchiq is a single-dose powder or injection that triggers the production of neutralizing antibodies 28 days after administration to individuals over 18.

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The vaccine provides protection for up to six months. CHIKV, the virus causing Chikungunya, primarily affects people in the tropics and subtropics, with high incidence rates reported in Central and South America.

While Chikungunya is not endemic to Europe, the EMA noted sporadic transmission incidents from infected travelers, particularly in southern Europe. The agency warned that climate change could spread the mosquito carrying CHIKV to new regions.

Currently, there is no licensed treatment for Chikungunya, a disease named after the Kimakonde language term meaning "to become contorted." First identified in Tanzania in 1952, CHIKV has since been reported in 110 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, according to the World Health Organization.

Brazil is currently experiencing outbreaks of Chikungunya, with over 160,000 cases reported in the first quarter of 2024, the EMA added.

"The rise in vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, such as Chikungunya, highlights the impact of climate change on health," the EMA stated.