Chikungunya

Aedes-borne Diseases Become Endemic in Europe

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 26 May 2025 09:55:10 +0000

Reviewer:

The diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, dengue and chikungunya, may soon become endemic in Europe as tiger mosquitoes have spread into northern countries.

A research article published by The Lancet Planetary Health in May 2025 quantifies the underlying drivers facilitating and accelerating Europe's transition from sporadic arbovirus outbreaks to Aedes-borne disease endemicity.

These researchers found that the mosquito's range has expanded from a single region in one country to 358 regions in 14 countries over the past three decades.

This study highlighted recent dengue outbreaks in Croatia, France, Italy, and Spain.

For example, over 300 dengue cases were recorded in Europe in 2024, compared to 275 over the previous 15 years.

And the higher mean temperatures during the summer months in urban or semi-urban regions were associated with increased risk.

Additionally, they found that higher imported cases and higher health-care expenditure per capita were associated with an increased risk of autochthonous outbreaks.

However, rain was not found to be a meaningful factor in Europe.

Jourdain and colleagues found that the Mediterranean climate is characterised by dry, hot summers and cool, wet winters in contrast to tropical climates. There was no statistically significant association between precipitation and autochthonous (local) transmission events in France.

This analysis's stark finding is that projections suggest an almost five-fold increase in dengue or chikungunya outbreaks by the 2060s relative to the 1990–2024 baseline period.

According to recent announcements by the U.S. CDC and European Medicines Agency, international travelers visiting at-risk areas in May 2025 should speak with a travel vaccine expert about immunization options.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika viruses detected in France

Reference:

Impact of climate and Aedes albopictus establishment on dengue and chikungunya outbreaks in Europe: a time-to-event analysis

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The Lancet May 2025

Are French Open 2025 Tennis Fans At-Risk Chikungunya and Dengue

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 24 May 2025 13:56:55 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

As the second step of the tennis Grand Slams gets underway at the Roland-Garros 2025 in Paris, France, international travelers are once again concerned about the impact of mosquito-transmitted diseases, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika.

Earlier in 2025, pro tennis events were held in countries with disease outbreaks in South America, such as Argentina and Brazil.

As of May 24, 2025, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika cases have been recently confirmed in France.

For example, chikungunya has been detected in France's southern area and has become a red-alert, outbreak-status in the Departments of Mayotte and Reunion.

These chikungunya outbreaks continue in late May, even with vaccination campaigns underway.

Last year in mainland France, 4,683 imported cases of dengue fever, 34 imported cases of chikungunya, eight imported cases of Zika, and one dengue-chikungunya co-infection were reported.

Eleven indigenous (local) dengue transmission episodes were identified for 83 indigenous cases. These episodes occurred in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (n=7), Occitanie (n=3) and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (n=1) regions.

An indigenous case of chikungunya was reported for the first time in Île-de-France, one year after the first indigenous focus of dengue transmission (n = 3 cases) in the Paris region was identified.

While France's Ministry of Health recommends vaccinations to prevent chikungunya and dengue, Roland-Garros 2025's leaders have not alerted their patrons of these health risks.

The tournament's website 'Prepare Your Visit' section does not disclose any infectious disease or vaccination-related information focused on Paris, southern France, or elsewhere.

While the actual health risk to tennis fans, players, and tournament staff is related to the volume of virus-carrying mosquitoes in the Paris area, it is advisable to speak with a travel vaccine expert before joining thousands of tennis fans cheering on their favorite player on the red clay courts in 2025.

Sub Title:

Paris France reported locally acquired Chikungunya and Dengue patients

Reference:

Chikungunya, dengue fever, and Zika in mainland France. 2024

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Public Health France May 2025

New Vaccine Recommendations Published

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:27:27 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

In the United States, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control disease. Once adopted, these ACIP recommendations become the official policy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As of May 15, 2025, the CDC published a user-friendly listing of the last five ACIP meeting recommendations.

Recently, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signed off on three vaccine recommendations passed last month by the ACIP. These actions include approvals for Chikungunya vaccines.

These approvals are essential to reduce the ongoing Chikungunya outbreaks in the Indian Ocean and the Region of the Americas.

Other ACIP recommendations related to a new meningococcal vaccine and RSV vaccines are pending as of May 19, 2025.

Additionally, to promote broader awareness, these recommendations are published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

To learn about historical ACIP vaccine recommendations for various diseases, visit this CDC webpage.

Sub Title:

ACIP recommendations for three vaccine approved in May 2025

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Travel Advisory Issued for Indian Ocean Chikungunya Outbreak

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 18 May 2025 12:00:30 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Last week, the U.S. government announced two essential updates to alert international travelers to various Chikungunya outbreaks in the Indian Ocean and expanded vaccination options.

The Health and Human Services Secretary recently adopted the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' vaccine recommendations for specific people traveling or residing in a country or territory with a risk of the mosquito-transmitted Chikungunya virus.

This announcement means two Chikungunya vaccines are available in the United States at travel clinics and pharmacies as of May 18, 2025.

On May 12, 2025, the U.S. CDC published a Level 2—Practice Enhanced Precautions, disclosing that mosquitoes currently spread the virus that causes Chikungunya in Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Somalia, and Sri Lanka.

Since August 2024, France's La Réunion Island has reported that Chikungunya has become endemic. As of May 12, 2025, about 47,000 confirmed cases and nine deaths had been reported. The municipalities of Étang-Salé and Le Tampon have the highest number of cases.

The CDC wrote, 'You can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites, which includes using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and staying in places with air conditioning or screens on the windows and doors.

The CDC also recommends vaccination for travelers visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak.

Additionally, on the other side of the planet, in the Region of the Americas, about 136,000 Chikungunya cases were reported in 2025, led by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.

These announcements are essential as most people infected with the Chikungunya virus develop some symptoms, and severe joint pain can occur for months to years following acute illness.

The CDC says people at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults, and people with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

Furthermore, disease prevention is key as no specific treatment for Chikungunya exists.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya vaccines are approved in May 2025

Reference:

US CDC Travel Advisory

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Chikungunya Infection Can Be Severe in Children

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 11 May 2025 09:20:50 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Most international travelers know infected mosquitoes transmit chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses. However, when an infected person seeks medical care, it can be challenging to identify which arbovirus they have contracted.

The recent outbreak of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreaks in India has gained attention because of its unusual symptoms, the increased need for hospitalization, and the high level of morbidity associated with the illness.

According to a recent Case-Report, the clinical manifestations that were particularly worrying included seizures, signs of raised intracranial pressure, shock, and respiratory distress.

Published by the Journal of Pediatric Critical Care in April 2025, this is a case series of 36 children hospitalized with acute severe CHIKV infection requiring intensive care in tertiary care centers in Pune, Maharashtra.

Diagnosis was confirmed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction or IgM level. Among severe presentations, the majority of children had neurological manifestations that included seizures in 20 (56%), irritability in 16 (44%), and drowsiness in 7 (19%) cases.

Twelve (33%) children had respiratory distress, 6 (16%) had hypotensive shock and required inotropic support, and 3 (8%) had acute liver cell failure, of which one child required liver transplantation. Two (5%) had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. All children were successfully discharged.

The neurological manifestations we observed were seizures, irritability, and drowsiness in 21 (60%).

Hypotensive shock was observed in 6 (16%) patients.

Also observed respiratory distress in 12 (33%) patients.

Since CHIKV can cause temporary liver damage, the virus will likely persist in liver endothelial cells. It causes inflammation, steatosis, and necrosis of hepatocytes.[13] We observed acute hepatic failure in 3 patients; Samra et al. observed that 14 CHIKV patients had meningoencephalitis, 29% of these 11 had acute hepatitis, and two children died due to meningoencephalitis and myocarditis.

They observed severe thrombocytopenia in 3 (8%) children, and 2 of them needed platelet transfusions.

These researchers wrote, 'despite all the above, CHIKV is a self-limiting illness with good recovery.

We found that all children completely recovered without any residual sequelae at the time of discharge. Analysis of the recent outbreak suggests that the increased severity of the disease may be due to a change in the genetic sequence, altering the virus's coat protein, and potentially allowing it to multiply more quickly in mosquito cells.'

To conclude, CHIKV had severe manifestations with neurological, respiratory, cardiac, hepatic, and hematological involvement. The condition appears to be more severe in infants, but with vigilant management, there were no mortalities. Thus, treating physicians must be aware of the unusual presentations, particularly during a disease outbreak, to ensure a favorable outcome.'

As of May 11, 2025, chikungunya is a vaccine-preventable disease. U.S. FDA-approved CHIKV vaccines are commercially offered in travel clinics and pharmacies throughout the United States.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya vaccines available in May 2025

Reference:

Case Series Severe chikungunya infection in children: A case series from Western Maharashtra

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Gulf of America's Overlapping Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria and Zika Risk

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 08 May 2025 13:49:36 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Over the last few decades, the continental United States has seen an unprecedented rise in local transmission of infectious diseases previously considered to be associated only with international travel.

These mosquito-transmitted diseases include malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

Scientific models recently predicted that the risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases will continue to increase, particularly in the southern states along the Gulf of America, such as Florida and Texas.

These disease outbreaks may be influenced by changes in climate conditions and the geographic expansion of virus-carrying mosquitoes.

A study published in Nature Communications in April 2025 stated that Arboviruses, transmitted mainly by Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Ae. albopictus poses an escalating threat in the United States.

Existing risk maps may underestimate or misrepresent the actual distribution of these diseases and do not incorporate epidemiological similarities despite shared vector species.

For example, Mexico reported over 500,00 dengue cases in 2024, but just across the Rio Grande River in Texas, only 43 travel-related cases were confirmed.

These researchers addressed this situation by generating new global environmental suitability maps for Aedes-borne arboviruses using a multi-disease ecological niche model with a nested surveillance model fit to a dataset of over 21,000 occurrence points.

This reveals a convergence in suitability around a common global distribution, with the recent spread of chikungunya and Zika closely aligning with areas suitable for dengue.

They assembled 58,361 occurrence records for dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever between 1927 and March 2024.

They estimated that 5.66 (95% confidence interval 5.64-5.68) billion people live in areas suitable for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.

They found significant national and subnational differences in surveillance capabilities, with higher-income, more accessible areas likely to detect, diagnose, and report viral diseases.

However, in remote rural areas, these diseases may go undetected.

When combined with estimates of uncertainty, these suitability maps can be used by ministries of health to target limited surveillance and intervention resources in new strategies against these emerging threats.

Without approved vaccines for dengue, malaria, and Zika, the U.S. CDC says the best way to avoid disease is not to be bitten by an infected mosquito.

However, there are U.S. FDA-approved chikungunya vaccines available in the U.S. in 2025.

Sub Title:

Florida, Texas reported dengue Cases in 2025

References:

Emerging Autochthonous Transmission of Travel-Associated Vector-Borne Infections in the Continental United States

The overlapping global distribution of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever

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Nature Communications ISSN 2041-1723

Travel Vaccines Are For Children During Summer Vacations

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 04 May 2025 08:54:25 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

In recent years, international travel has rebounded at an extraordinary rate. According to the Department of Commerce, more than 15 million U.S. residents travel abroad monthly for business or vacation purposes.

Many of these international travelers are children, and just like adults, they have the option to enhance their immune systems by receiving travel vaccines.

When finalizing summer vaccination plans in 2025, disease prevention should be considered.

Viruses transmitted by mosquitoes have spread rapidly worldwide, resulting in significant disease outbreaks in previously unexposed populations. For example, in the Region of the Americas, Dengue cases set all-time records.

As of May 4, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that getting vaccinated against infectious diseases is one of the most effective ways to protect your health while traveling abroad.

The newly updated CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel, Edition: 2026, highlights several preventive vaccines parents should consider when planning an international trip with children.

Vaccinating children for travel requires careful evaluation to determine whether immunizations are needed and to address precautions when visiting an area reporting disease outbreaks.

The CDC's country-specific vaccination requirements and recommendations for departure and entry vary over time. For example, in 2025, proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into certain countries, such as Brazil and Colombia. Yong children without contraindications should be vaccinated before traveling to countries where yellow fever is endemic.

The CDC highlighted several diseases and vaccine options, such as:

Chikungunya outbreaks will occur in tropical and subtropical regions this year, such as France's La Reunion District. The U.S. government has approved vaccines for adults and some older children.

Cholera, a toxin-mediated bacterial gastrointestinal illness, causes acute, watery diarrheal illness that can be severe and fatal without proper treatment. Vaccine administration instructions differ for children aged 2–5 years versus people aged 6 years and older, and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is endemic throughout most of Asia and parts of the western Pacific. JE risk can be seasonal in temperate climates and year-round in more tropical climates. The risk to short-term travelers and those confined to urban centers is considered low.

The CDC recommends a JE vaccine for travelers who plan to spend more than one month in endemic areas such as Australia and India. The vaccine is an inactivated Vero cell culture-derived U.S. Food and Drug Administration-licensed JE vaccine (IXIARO).

For travelers at risk for JE, a booster dose (third dose) may be given one or more years after the initial series.

Although the CDC recommendations apply to all children, it is advisable to consult with a travel vaccine expert for tailored advice for each child. Additionally, remember that some vaccinations may take a month to become effective, so parents should plan ahead before boarding a plane!

Sub Title:

Children should be up to date on travel vaccines before departing abroad in 2025

Reference:

US CDC Travel Vaccine Recommendations for Infants and Children

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U.S. Department of Commerce May 2025

Chikungunya Vaccination Could Save 73 Lives During an Outbreak

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 03 May 2025 12:03:17 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

With Chikungunya virus transmission occurring in approximately 100 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas and significant outbreaks reported in May 2025, researchers have identified an effective method to reduce this mosquito-transmitted disease's impact on local communities.

The findings from a new study suggest that the newly approved chikungunya vaccine represents an important new tool for controlling outbreaks.

Published by the journal Nature Medicine on May 1, 2025, these researchers stated Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® chikungunya vaccine is now licensed and available in various countries; however, it remains uncertain whether it could be effectively deployed during outbreaks to reduce the health burden.

In this modeling seroprevalence study, they examined an epidemic in the Republic of Paraguay to reconstruct the dynamics of epidemic transmission, providing a framework to assess the theoretical impact of the vaccine if it had been available.

The study's estimates indicated that 33% (95% confidence interval (CI) 30.1–36.0%) of the population was infected during the outbreak.

The surveillance system identified only 6.3% (95% CI 5.8–6.9%) of infected people, with a mean infection fatality ratio of 0.013% (95% CI 0.012–0.014%).

They found that a disease-blocking vaccine with 75% efficacy, if administered to 40% of individuals aged 12 years and older over three months, could have prevented approximately 34,200 cases (95% CI 30,900–38,000), accounting for 23% of all cases, and 73 deaths (95% CI 66–81).

Moreover, if the IXCHIQ vaccine had also prevented infections, up to 88% of cases could have been avoided.

These researchers wrote, 'These findings suggest that the vaccine represents an important new tool for controlling outbreaks.'

Based on various findings, France's La Réunion Department is administering IXCHIQ in May 2025 to reduce its chikungunya outbreak.

Recently, studies have supported the use of vaccines to prevent chikungunya disease.

On January 20, 2025, Valneva reported IXCHIQ showed a sustained 98.3% sero-response rate one year after a single vaccination.

And the Lancet Infectious Diseases published results from a phase 3b study, concluding that after a single dose of IXCHIQ, chikungunya virus-neutralizing antibodies were detected for up to two years.

As of May 3, 2025, IXCHIQ is commercially available in the United States and is offered at various travel clinics and pharmacies. It is recommended by the U.S. CDC for most adults when visiting outbreak areas.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya vaccines are approved in the United States

Reference:

Modeling the impact of vaccine campaigns on the epidemic transmission dynamics of chikungunya virus outbreaks

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To Avoid Mosquito Transmitted Diseases, Visit Puerto Rico in April Not October

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:19:24 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

When planning a Caribbean vacation in 2025, it's essential to utilize the latest data to ensure a holiday free from mosquito-borne diseases.

According to the Puerto Rico Department of Health's disease information portal, the number of Chikungunya, dengue, and Zika cases tends to be at its lowest in April each year. In contrast, disease transmission by mosquitoes typically peaks in October during the rainy season in the Caribbean.

For instance, there were 6,431 reported cases of Dengue in Puerto Rico over the past year.

During the week of April 19, 2025, only a minimal number of Dengue cases were reported. However, in early October 2024, the highest number of dengue cases was recorded.

And Puerto Rico's first laboratory-confirmed case of Chikungunya was in May 2014.

Furthermore, 16 Zika cases were reported in 2024, and 43 in 2023.

While the U.S. CDC recommends various routes of vaccination before visiting Puerto Rico, the agency does not encourage the use of U.S. FDA-approved Chikungunya or Takeda's Dengue vaccines.

Therefore, to remain disease-free when visiting Puerto Rico during the summer of 2025, the CDC advises avoiding mosquito bites.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya, Dengue Zika infections peak in San Juan October

Reference:

Aboviral Disease Report of the Puerto Rico Department of Health

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Can 40,000 Vaccinations Curtail France's Chikungunya Emergency

Karen McClorey Hackett — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:33:32 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

With 40,000 vaccines available, can the France's ARS Réunion stop the raging chikungunya epidemic on La Réunion island. Just last week, 4,913 cases of chikungunya were confirmed.

Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 33,835 confirmed cases and six related fatalities.

In this French overseas department of 890,000 individuals, the first phase of the vaccination campaign commenced on April 7, 2025, with 40,000 doses of Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® vaccine. This effective vaccine is made freely available on Réunion.

Following the recommendations of the French health authorities, ARS Réunion has decided to extend access free vaccinations to the following groups who have not contracted chikungunya in the past:

Those aged 18 to 64 with comorbidities or chronic diseases, and,

Seniors aged 65 and over, whether or not they have comorbidities.

The purpose of the vaccination program is to protect vulnerable individuals at risk of developing severe complications from chikungunya in the absence of prior natural immunity.

What's unusual about this chikungunya epidemic is the virus's genotype.

Although Aedes aegypti mosquitoes generally transmit chikungunya virus (CHIKV), the ongoing outbreak on La Réunion Island was caused by Aedes albopictus, which acted as the primary vector due to the ECSA CHIKV genotype's adaptation to this vector, specifically the E1-A226V and E1-K211E mutations.

In 2004, these CHIKV mutations spread eastward from Africa to the Indian Ocean islands and India, resulting in outbreaks in various locations.

This may be the cause of the extensive increase in infectivity.

To alert international travelers to this serious health risk, France issued a Level 4 emergency for Réunion in March 2025, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 Advisory on February 25, 2025, regarding the epidemic on La Réunion.

Since most cases in the U.S. are travel-related and virus testing is not offered everywhere, commercial lab testing services, such as UltaLabs, can detect chikungunya infections.

From a prevention perspective, the UK Travel Health Pro and the CDC advise travellers to ideally arrange an appointment with their healthcare professional at least four to six weeks before travel. Currently, there are no vaccine certificate requirements under the International Health Regulations.

As of April 18, 2025, about 800,000 IXCHIQ doses have been distributed worldwide.

In the U.S., chikungunya vaccination services are available at most travel clinics and pharmacies.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya vaccines are FDA approved in April 2025

References:

La Reunion vaccination program - April 17, 2025

Key figures from March 31 to April 6:

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Where Do Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow Fever, Zika Outbreaks Overlap

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 18:36:11 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Many disease incidence maps offer limited real-time value for international travelers planning trips. Quantifying health risks at the local level is increasingly important to reduce the number of travel-related diseases during the summer of 2025.

Researchers are concerned that surveillance biases hamper existing disease maps and may misrepresent the actual distribution of disease outbreaks.

Furthermore, since arboviruses are transmitted mainly by Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Ae. albo-pictus in urban settings, there is an escalating health threat in large population centers that are tourist favorites, such as São Paulo, Brazil, or San Juan, Puerto Rico.

To fill this 'mapping' need for international travelers, the Global Arbovirus Initiative has developed a global framework to monitor the combined risk of Aedes-borne transmission of diseases such as Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow Fever, and Zika.

Published in the journal Nature on April 10, 2025, researchers address this shortcoming by generating new global environmental suitability maps for Aedes-borne arboviruses using a multi-disease ecological niche model with a nested surveillance model fit to a dataset of over 21,000 occurrence points.

They estimate that 5.66 (95% confidence interval 5.64-5.68) billion people live in areas suitable for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, and 1.54 (1.53-1.54) billion people for yellow fever.

These researchers found substantial geographic overlap between dengue, chikungunya, and Zika occurrence points, with 78.3% (3701/4727) of chikungunya and 83.7% (952/1138) of Zika occurrence points falling within 50 km of a dengue occurrence point This data suggests a high degree of overlap between these different diseases.

The density of points was highest in high-income countries, including the United States, European nations, and Japan, but also in many countries in the Global South, including Brazil, India, and Thailand.

In summary, these researchers wrote, 'This comprehensive assessment of uncertainty serves as a useful starting point for collaboration with researchers and country ministries of health to identify new data sources and targeted data collection activities to validate the suitability maps prospectively.'

'Validation by stakeholders in affected regions will improve the maps and build engagement with them, increasing the likelihood that they can usefully inform surveillance and control policy changes.'

With these enhanced maps, innovative infection screening systems could be deployed at U.S.-based airports to identify international travelers who potentially pose a health risk to local populations.

Previous airport screening programs conducted in the U.S., such as the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program and airplane wastewater monitoring, have various implementation limitations, which may obscure where people actually get infected by virus-carrying mosquitoes in 2025.

While the U.S. CDC and other agencies publish travel vaccine recommendations for most countries, these are not targeted to local markets or remote destinations where people vacation. Travelers should speak with vaccine experts at travel clinics or pharmacies to learn about real-time health risks.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow Fever are vaccine preventable diseases in 2025

References:

NATURE: The overlapping global distribution ofdengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever

Global expansion and redistribution of Aedes-borne virus transmission risk with climate change

Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance

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Temporal and spatial distribution of Aedes-borne arbovirus occurrence points April 2025

Costa Rica's Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika Cases Curtailed

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 20:05:22 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

A popular destination in Central America is making headlines with positive news for those planning a summer getaway.

The Republic of Costa Rica, renowned for its breathtaking mountains and pristine beaches, welcomed around 1.7 million American visitors in 2024.

And the Costa Rican Tourism Institute says the number should increase this year.

While concerns about mosquito-borne illnesses such as chikungunya, dengue, malaria, and Zika have lingered over the past few years, a recent announcement from the Ministry of Health on April 4, 2025, brings a wave of relief.

The Ministry says dengue cases have plummeted by an impressive 69.5% (1,802 vs 5,909) in early 2025.

The reduced number of dengue cases reported this year is concentrated in the South Central region, with 804 cases, followed by the North Central and the Central Pacific regions.

Three other serious diseases have reported decreases in 2025.

Only seven cases of chikungunya have been reported so far this year. In 2024, about 405 chikungunya infections had been reported.

Six malaria cases have been confirmed this year as of April 2025. In 2024, 232 locally acquired malaria cases were reported in Costa Rica; 544 were confirmed in 2023.

Furthermore, Costa Rica has only reported four Zika cases as of April 2025, 32 for all of 2024.

One reason for these decreases is that the Ministry of Health's vector control teams have eliminated 341,771 mosquito breeding sites and fumigated 136,058 houses.

This week, the Ministry reminded residents and visitors to continue being vigilant in avoiding mosquito bites and urged them to cooperate with fumigation efforts.

Another reason could be related to vaccine availability.

The Ministry and the U.S. CDC recommend both routine and travel vaccines before visiting Costa Rica in 2025.

The good news is that chikungunya vaccines are available at travel clinics and pharmacies in the U.S., while Dengue, Malaria, and Zika await U.S. FDA approval.

As these diseases decline, the safety of this tropical paradise reaffirms Costa Rica's top choice for travelers seeking a memorable, worry-free vacation this summer.

Sub Title:

Travel vaccinations recommended before visiting Costa Rica in 2025

Reference:

CR Health Surveillance Directorate, as of epidemiological week 12

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India - United Kingdom Travelers Infected with Chikungunya

Karen McClorey Hackett — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 21:46:45 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

In 2023, after the world reopened to international travel, residents of the United Kingdom made 86.2 million trips abroad, marking a 21% increase compared to 2022.

Unfortunately, many travelers returned home carrying mosquito-borne diseases.

A new report published on March 27, 2025, by the Travel Health and International Health Regulations team in the Epidemic and Emerging Infections Directorate, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), summarises case numbers of selected travel-associated infections reported in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (EWNI).

This analysis includes the trends of chikungunya, cholera, dengue, rickettsial infections, and Zika virus disease in 2024.

For example, in EWNI, 112 chikungunya cases (105 in England, four in Wales, and three in Northern Ireland) were reported in 2024, nearly 1.5 times the number reported in 2023.

The most significant proportion of cases in England was reported in London (41%).

In 2024, travel history was known for most cases, with the majority of these reporting travel to Southern Asia (88 cases, 80%), followed by South-Eastern Asia (11 cases).

The most frequently reported country of travel for chikungunya cases was India (66 cases).

EWNI cases of people who traveled to India reported traveling to several regions, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Delhi.

"Before you travel, check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest health advice on your destination, including any recommended vaccinations," Dr. Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at the UK Health Security Agency, stated in a related media release.

"Even if you've been to a country before, remember that you don't have the same level of protection against infections as permanent residents and are still at risk."

Both the UKHSA and the U.S. CDC recommend that people visiting a Chikungunya outbreak area in 2025 speak with a travel vaccine expert about approved vaccination options available at travel clinics and pharmacies.

Previously, the U.S. CDC has published Travel Health Advisories to alert people to this mosquito-transmitted disease. For example, a Level 2 Advisory was issued in 2025, regarding the Chikungunya outbreak on France's Réunion island.

And various countries in the Region of the Americas (Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico) have already reported Chikungunya cases in 2025.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya infections confirmed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland travelers

References:

Travel-associated infections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 2024

Cases reported in returning travellers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2024

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Tuesday, April 1, 2025 - 06:30

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US CDC

First Chikungunya Vaccine Approved for Adolescents

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 15:40:02 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

For about 200 years, health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed Chikungunya virus transmissions. In 2024, outbreaks reached an unfortunate level in the Region of the Americas.

Last year, 425,138 Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) cases and 236 associated fatalities were reported by the Pan American Health Organization. This year has started with over 55,000 cases as of early March.

The vast majority of the infections were in unvaccinated people.

To address this shortcoming, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a novel Chikungunya vaccine produced by Bavarian Nordic A/S, which became commercially available on March 18, 2025.

This announcement means before international travelers plan their next trip to CHIKV-endemic areas such as Argentina and Brazil, the VIMKUNYA™ vaccine is available for adolescents and adults to help prevent the contraction of this mosquito-transmitted disease and the potential for long-term illness.

Peter Costa, Bavarian Nordic's Medical Director of North America, informed Vax-Before-Travel News on March 21, 2025, "that "With approved use for those 12 years of age and older, VIMKUNYA™ addresses an important unmet public health need by expanding the eligibility for vaccination against Chikungunya."

"As the first virus-like particle (VLP) single-dose, pre-filled syringe vaccine, VIMKUNYA™ provides a crucial new tool to help protect at-risk individuals traveling to regions where the CHIKV is spreading."

"Chikungunya virus remains a significant global health concern. We're confident in the ability of VIMKUNYA™ to address this previously unmet medical need in adolescents as well as offer prevention for "adults."

According to Bavarian Nordic, access to VIMKUNYA™ depends on location and individual circumstances.

In some areas, a prescription may be required, so travelers should check with their healthcare provider or a travel health clinic to determine availability and whether they need a prescription. Patients may also ask their employer about coverage as a travel health expense if receiving VIMKUNYA™ for work-related travel.

Those visiting or living in areas where Chikungunya is present or with risk factors for severe disease should consult a healthcare professional to assess their need for vaccination.

"The age indication is significant as children tend to be less diligent in using insect repellants," Duellyn Pandis, DNP, MS, APRN, FNP-C, informed Vax-Before-Travel News.

"Also important is this vaccine can be used in immune-compromised individuals as it is not a live vaccine," added Pandis, President & CEO of Passport Health of Tampa Bay.

Vimkunya vaccination triggers the production of neutralizing antibodies at 22 days and up to 183 days post-vaccination. Studies have shown that VLP vaccines are highly immunogenic, have a proven safety record, and typically elicit high titer-neutralizing antibodies needed to protect against CHIKV.

As of March 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists countries and territories with evidence of CHIKV transmission. From 2006 to 2023, about 4,500 travel-related CHIKV cases were reported in the U.S. in areas such as California, Florida, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, and Texas.

Additionally, the CDC Level 2 Advisory was reissued this year regarding the expanding Chikungunya outbreak in La Réunion island, an overseas department and region of France.

Since the beginning of 2025, 8,600 locally acquired cases have been reported in this vacation destination, which is located about 500 miles east of Madagascar.

The CDC recommends speaking to your healthcare provider about vaccination options if traveling to an area at risk for Chikungunya.

Note: This news article was updated with a travel vaccine expert insight on March 24, 2025.

Sub Title:

VIMKUNYA is the first virus-like particle single-dose chikungunya vaccine

Reference:

Bavarian Nordic Announces Commercial Launch of Chikungunya Vaccine in the U.S.

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Sunday, March 23, 2025 - 05:30

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US CDC March 2025

Pharmacists Are Essential Vaccination Providers in 2025

Donald Hackett — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 20:59:59 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

Often ranked as one of the most trusted healthcare providers, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to influence vaccination rates in the United States. Located within five miles of most Americas, digital pharmacists have become an ideal source of relevant vaccine information and related services, such as appointment-based vaccinations.

A recent report published on February 25, 2025, collated state-level research on pharmacist vaccination authority policies and analyzed state-level vaccination rates.

By examining these data, the report highlights differences in overall vaccination rates among states with varying restrictions on pharmacists' ability to prescribe and administer adult vaccinations independently.

This IQVIA Institute assessment also estimates the number of people who may not have received vaccinations due to their state policies based on relative differences in vaccination rates between these groups of states.

This analysis found lower average vaccination rates in states that require physician prescriptions rather than states that allow independent, statewide standing order (SSO) pharmacist vaccination.

If the vaccination rates for states that require protocols for pharmacists to administer vaccines were comparable to states that allow pharmacists to administer vaccines independently/through an SSO, around 534,000 additional people age 60+ may have received an RSV vaccine, 828,000 additional people age 18+ may have received a PCV20 vaccine, and 953,000 additional people age 50+ may have received a Shingles vaccine.

By shedding light on state regulations that limit pharmacists ' ability to provide immunizations, the findings intend to guide policymakers in making informed decisions to optimize pharmacists ' role in the adult immunization process.

IQVIA wrote that vaccination is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. It has been noted to significantly reduce mortality, disease, hospitalization, disability, and disparity.

Despite these benefits, adult immunization rates in the U.S. consistently fall short of public health goals.

Structural access barriers, such as limitations in vaccine availability and patient travel/time commitment, can serve as bottlenecks in vaccine uptake. While pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals in the U.S., states still vary in their policies on vaccine administration authority for pharmacists.

Therefore, it is essential to understand the variance and impact of state vaccination authority on vaccine uptake and where improvements can be made.

Additionally, with increasing international travel and rare disease outbreaks, speaking with a certified travel vaccine expert can save people time and money.

For example, various U.S. CDC Travel Health Advisories recommend that people visit a travel vaccine provider authorized to vaccinate against yellow fever before visiting disease-endemic areas such as Brazil.

Additionally, in 2025, most pharmacies gained authorization to deliver newly approved vaccines for newer mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as chikungunya.

With new leadership at U.S. government agencies deploying innovative strategies, pharmacists remain the optimal main-street vaccine provider to increase trust in the health system.

Sub Title:

Vaccination rates increase with pharmacist integration

References:

Assessing the Impact of State Pharmacist Vaccination Authority on Vaccine Uptake in the U.S.

US CDC Travel Vaccines

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Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 06:15

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IQVIA Institute 2025