IXCHIQ Chikungunya Vaccine Live

Travel Advisory Issued for Indian Ocean Chikungunya Outbreak

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

Reviewer:

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

Europe's Chikungunya Cases Come From India and the Caribbean Islands

Karen McClorey Hackett — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 13:21:42 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

With international travel accelerating in 2025, a recent study offers an overview of Chikungunya infections in mainland Europe over the past two decades. This research article provides this mosquito-transmitted disease's epidemiological characteristics, diversity, and clinical manifestations.

The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was first recognized during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952. It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female mosquitoes, most commonly Ae. albopictus and Ae. Aegypti.

Although not listed as a hemorrhagic fever virus, the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is often misdiagnosed with more well-known diseases, such as dengue or yellow fever.

From 2007 to 2023, about 4,730 Chikungunya outbreaks were reported in 22 European countries, predominantly affecting middle-aged females. These showed a seasonal pattern with peaks mainly associated with summer vacation.

The United Kingdom had the highest number of cases (21.9%), followed by France (19.6%), Germany (14.5%), and Italy (13.6%).

This study published by Qian Liu, Hong Shen, Li Gu, Hui Yuan, and Wentao Zhu in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (19(3): e0012904) on March 7, 2025, revealed that the majority of Chikungunya infections were travel-related.

Among the total number of travel-related cases (n=2836),. Most cases originated from India (11.7%), the Dominican Republic (9.0%), Guadeloupe (8.7%), and Thailand (7.8%).

In 2024, Chikungunya outbreaks were confirmed in India's Maharashtra and Telangana states.

This study noted that before the first autochthonous (local) cases of CHIKV were reported in mainland Europe in 2007, a significant number of CHIKV cases occurred between March 2005 and June 2006 in the French overseas territories, which continue today.

For example, as of March 9, 2025, France's La Reunion is reporting an unusual spike in CHIKV cases.

And in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has reported 49,791 CHIIKV cases and two related fatalities this year. In 2024, 425,138 CHIKV cases and 236 associated fatalities were reported in the Americas.

Since Chikungunya has no specific treatment, the U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a safe and preventive vaccine for some travelers.

In 2025, the CDC reissued a Level 2 Travel Health Advisory to notify international travelers of this health risk: 'Vaccination against chikungunya is recommended for certain people traveling to a destination with a current chikungunya outbreak.'

The PAHO and the CDC recommend speaking with a travel vaccine expert at least one month before visiting outbreak areas to ensure you are protected from disease. As of March 2025, the U.S. FDA-approved IXCHIQ® vaccine was commercially available in the U.S., Asia, Canada, and Europe.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya is a vaccine preventable disease in March 2025

Reference:

Chikungunya virus in Europe: A retrospective epidemiology study from 2007 to 2023

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PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (19(3): e0012904)

Ahead of Winter Vacations, Central America Countries Under High-Level Travel Advisories

Donald Hackett — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:28:43 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

With winter vacations just a few weeks away, many international travelers are actively searching for safe and healthy destinations. Over the past few weeks, U.S. government agencies have updated Central American travel advisories, offering real-world insights on local health issues and safety risks.

For example, the U.S. Department of State recently updated its Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica advisories.

On December 13, 2024, the State Department issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel for the Republic of Nicaragua, the third-most populous country in Central America. The Department has determined there is a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Government of Nicaragua.

Therefore, U.S. citizens should reconsider traveling to Nicaragua, including working for or volunteering with non-profits or religious organizations. If you travel to Nicaragua, consider arrangements to depart the country quickly.

When in the country, U.S. citizens can seek assistance at the U.S. Embassy in Managua, located at Km 5 ½ Carretera Sur.

Enrolling in the Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program would be best for receiving digital alerts, which can help locate you in an emergency.

From a health perspective, the capital city of Managua, with a population of over 1 million, has limited services. One private hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, with few specialists available for acute emergencies.

Medical services outside Managua are underdeveloped. Tap water is not reliably potable, so it is recommended that people drink purified water.

The State Department has issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for the Republic of Honduras and a Level 2 advisory for Costa Rica.

In the past few years, viruses transmitted by disease-carrying mosquitos have increasingly spread across the Region of the Americas, causing significant disease and fatalities in naïve populations.

During 2024, chikungunya, dengue, and zika diseases have been confirmed in people living and visiting Central America. Dengue cases and fatalities have set records this year.

Separately, the U.S. CDC recommends that visitors to these countries visit a healthcare provider at least a month before their trip to get necessary vaccines or medicines. Travelers should also ensure they have adequate travel health insurance.

As of December 16, 2024, only the U.S. FDA-approved chikungunya vaccine is available at travel clinics and pharmacies. While a dengue vaccine is in use in numerous countries, it is unavailable in the U.S., And the leading zika vaccine is conducting clinical trials.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya, dengue, and zika confirmed in Central America in 2024

References:

Nicaragua - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Honduras - Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Costa Rica - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Mexico International Travel Information

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Chikungunya Vaccination Outperforms Medication Treatment ROI

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:43:00 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The British Medical Journal, one of the world's leading peer-reviewed medical journals, recently revealed that mosquito-transmitted Chikungunya infections have a 'higher disease burden than previously estimated, and the related costs are substantial.'

On December 2, 2024, these researchers wrote, 'Chikungunya outbreaks significantly impact local health systems due to its unpredictable and explosive nature.'

Furthermore, 'A key factor of chikungunya's global economic and health burden is the underreporting factor, as highlighted in our sensitivity analysis.'

This study estimated the global direct cost at $2.8 billion and the indirect cost at $47.1 billion between 2011 and 2020, resulting in a health burden of 1.95 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) during this period. Long-term chronic illness was the source of most costs and DALYs.

Mortality's impact was limited in this analysis, which aligns with previous studies.

These researchers wrote, 'Our study may have underestimated the role of medication costs in the overall economic burden. A previous study found an average medication cost per chronic case of $901, whereas our research estimates $87.88. This analysis raises total costs by $6.17 billion, an 11% increase.'

'These findings may surprise public health leaders, as global health or cost estimates (for Chikungunya outbreaks) have been under-modeled thus far,' added these researchers.

Over the past few years, Chikungunya cases have significantly increased in the Americas region. As of December 2024, the Pan American Health Organization reported over 412,120 cases and 204 related fatalities in the Americas this year.

Another topic not addressed in this modeling study is the difference between medication costs and the use of preventive vaccination.

With the U.S. FDA's approval in 2023, Valneva SE's IXCHIQ® became the first vaccine to address Chikungunya virus infections.

According to various vaccine retailers, the cost of IXCHIQ® is under $390, which, according to this study's medication cost and economic burden analysis, vaccination can produce a measurable return on investment.

"The long-term consequences or even the existence of Chikungunya is unknown to most travelers," commented Crockett Tidwell RPh, CDCES, CTH, International Society of Travel Medicine Certificate in Travel Health™, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.

"People should always seek the advice of a trained Travel Health Specialist before any international travel. The approval of a highly effective vaccine is a welcome tool and a game changer," added Tidwell, Clinical Services Manager at United Supermarkets in Lubbock, Texas.

Furthermore, vaccination may protect people for several years. A recent study concluded that IXCHIQ delivered very high efficacy (97%) for about three years, which enhances the vaccine's long-term economic value proposition.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, commented in a press release on December 4, 2024, "This landmark analysis is very informative as it provides a comprehensive overview of the chikungunya burden worldwide and until now, estimates of chikungunya's economic and health impact were limited and potentially underestimated."

"Due to climate change, mosquito-borne diseases have become a year-round menace and continue spreading, increasing the potential for outbreaks."

Since the U.S. CDC maintains a Travel Health Advisory focused on Chikungunya outbreaks in 2024, international travelers should speak with a travel expert about vacation and/or treatment options one month before departing abroad.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya outbreaks increase economic and health burdens

References:

The global health and economic burden of chikungunya from 2011 to 2020

Valneva Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication on the Global Health and Economic Burden of Chikungunya

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PAHO

Europe's Vaccine Candidate Pipeline is Loaded

Donald Hackett — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:35:57 +0000

Vaccines Europe recently published a pipeline review of its 14 member companies. The 2024 review includes information up to August 2024 and shows a promising vaccine pipeline to tackle today's and tomorrow's challenges.

This Vaccines Today review is excerpted and attached below:

Vaccination has revolutionized public health over the last century, saving countless lives and preventing long-term health complications caused by various pathogens. The benefits of vaccines go beyond individual protection.

Over the last 50 years, immunization efforts against 14 infectious diseases have saved over 154 million lives, with a significant proportion being infants. This achievement highlights immunization's crucial role in ensuring children survive their early years and grow into healthy adults.

The vaccine industry continues to evolve in response to the dynamic global health landscape, with innovation at its core.

From pioneering new vaccine technologies to expanding the scope of immunization strategies, the current pipeline reflects a
commitment to saving as many lives as possible from infectious diseases.

Central to this vision is the concept of life-course immunization.

Protecting health at every stage of life, from infancy through adulthood to older age, populations can remain healthy, productive, and less susceptible to preventable diseases.

This review highlights the innovative approaches and collaborative efforts shaping the future of 98 vaccine candidates in the Vaccines Europe members' pipeline.

It underscores the importance of remaining competitive through cutting-edge research and streamlined and harmonized regulatory and access processes across the EU and its Member States.

By championing life-course immunization and fostering an innovative environment, we can ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of global health and economic prosperity.

Vaccine manufacturers remain committed to playing their part in ensuring a healthier tomorrow for entire populations.

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98 vaccine candidates in the Vaccines Europe members pipeline

Reference:

Vaccines Europe pipeline review

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Vaccines Europe pipeline review 2024

Costa Rica Leads Malaria Day in the Americas

Karen McClorey Hackett — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 19:02:47 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The Northern Huetar Region of Costa Rica was recently awarded the 2024 Malaria Champions Prize, a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)initiative recognizing evidence-based malaria control and elimination efforts in the Region of the Americas.

The announcement was made on November 15, 2024, as part of Malaria Day in the Americas 2024.

The theme for this Malaria Day, Expanding access to diagnostics and treatment for all, calls for action to make malaria treatment readily accessible to communities.

Costa Rica won the award in recognition of the reduction in female mosquito-transmitted autochthonous (local) cases in the Northern Huetar Region in recent years. Cases decreased from 378 in 2022 to 128 in 2023, and as of the beginning of October 2024, only eight cases were reported, representing significant progress toward eliminating autochthonous malaria transmission.

This achievement is due to implementing several strategies, including a mass drug administration campaign in selected communities. To continue reducing malaria transmission, PAHO calls on countries to intensify efforts to eliminate malaria in the Americas and expand access to malaria diagnosis and treatment.

Unfortunately, neither WHO-recommended malaria vaccine will be available in Costa Rica in 2024.

The Malaria Champions is a collaborative effort between PAHO, the United Nations Foundation, the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University's Center for Communication Programs, the Florida International University, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Health. Since 2009, over 40 projects across the region have been recognized with this award.

Additionally, Costa Rica Health Department's Boletín Epidemiológico N°45 revealed several new chikungunya, dengue, and zika cases this year.

As of November 22, 2024, 40 chikungunya infections, over 29,500 dengue cases, and 25 Zika cases in 2024.

From a prevention perspective, chikungunya and dengue vaccines are available this year in the Region of the Americas.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya, dengue, malaria, Zika cases confirmed in Costa Rica in 2024

Reference:

Costa Rica Epidemiological Bulletins 2024

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Thursday, November 28, 2024 - 05:45

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PAHO November 2024

Chikungunya and Dengue Viruses Co-Circulate In the Americas

Karen McClorey Hackett — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 23:56:15 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

The sudden multi-year increase of chikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue cases in the Federative Republic of Brazil has raised concerns about the impact of arbovirus outbreaks on public health throughout the Region of the Americas.

As of November 21, 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) had reported 412,089 chikungunya cases this year, 411,548 cases in 2023, and 273,841 in 2022.

Seperately, the PAHO has reported 12,522,878 dengue cases and 7,598 related fatalities in 2024.

A recent study published by BMC Medicine has revealed where these mosquito-transmitted diseases are most prevalent.

The data from CHIKV tests indicated that Brazil's Northeast region had the highest regional positivity rate in 2022 (58.1%). However, in 2023, the Southeast region recorded the highest positivity rate (40.5%).

During the first thirty epidemiological weeks of 2023 in Minas Gerais, a Brazilian state with 20 million residents, there was a 5.8-fold increase in CHIKV cases and a 3.5-fold increase in dengue compared to the same period in 2022.

All CHIKV clades are closely related to genomes from previous Brazilian outbreaks in the Northeast.

In 2024, different importation and local transmission events of two distinct genotypes were identified: CHIKV-Asian in the North region and ECSA in the Northeast region of Brazil. All sequenced genomes were classified as ECSA genotype. The dated phylogenetic analysis showed the presence of three main CHIKV clusters.

Furthermore, these researchers detected the RNA of both viruses in approximately 12.75% of the confirmed positive cases, suggesting an increase in co-infection with dengue and CHIKV during the analysis period.

In contrast to CHIKV, dengue cases were not concentrated in just one region of the state. The South region exhibited the highest regional positivity rate in 2022 (40.8%) and 2023 (22.7%).

In conclusion, these researchers wrote, 'The study findings offer valuable insights into two arboviruses in Brazil, particularly in Minas Gerais. These high rates of re-emergence and co-infection with both arboviruses provide useful data for implementing control measures of Aedes vectors and the urgent implementation of public health politics to reduce the numbers of CHIKV and DENV cases in the country.'

To prevent infections, the PAHO suggests that international travelers discuss vaccination options with a travel vaccine expert at least one month before visiting these areas of Brazil. Approved vaccines for chikungunya (IXCHIQ) and dengue (Qdenga) are available.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya vaccine available in 2024

Reference:

Retrospective epidemiologic and genomic surveillance of arboviruses in 2023 in Brazil reveals high co-circulation of chikungunya

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Friday, November 22, 2024 - 07:00

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The Lancet

Argentina Changes History, Confronts Chikungunya Outbreak with Sterile Mosquitoes

Karen McClorey Hackett — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:25:22 +0000

Reviewer:

Robert Carlson, MD

As the chikungunya outbreak continues in the Region of the Americas, visitors to the Argentine Republic may soon have fewer concerns about this mosquito-transmitted disease.

According to official information, Argentina has begun using sterile male mosquitoes to control chikungunya, dengue, and Zika outbreaks.

Following the signing of an agreement with the Municipality of Ezeiza, the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) has begun releasing sterile male mosquitoes in Barrio Uno for the ecological control of Aedes aegypti, a vector of diseases such as chikungunya.

The virus has garnered attention in Argentina since its introduction to the Region of the Americas in 2013.

The president of the CNEA, Dr. Ing. Germán Guido Lavalle, and the mayor of Ezeiza, Gastón Granados, signed an agreement for the implementation in that municipality of an inter-institutional development program to use the Sterile Insect Technique for the ecological control of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

"This technique consists of irradiating male insects to make them sterile and prevent reproduction. It is effective against many pests, and with our capacity at CNEA, we adapted it for Aedes aegypti."

The release of mosquitoes is planned for the end of November 2024 in the 40 hectares of Barrio Uno, with batches of 80,000 per week for a year. The impact is expected to be noticeable after four months.

According to a recent study, two distinct chikungunya genotypes circulated in Argentina. The Asian lineage during the 2016 epidemic and the ECSA lineage in 2023.

In early 2023, there was a significant increase in chikungunya cases across various regions of Argentina. Between the 1st and 43rd weeks, 2,314 confirmed cases, mainly autochthonous (local), were reported in nine provinces, including Buenos Aires.

As of November 2024, the Pan American Health Organization reported Argentina had recorded 768 Chikungyna cases this year.

From a prevention perspective, the first vaccine approved to address chikungunya virus infections in adults, Valneva SE's IXCHIQ®, is available in various countries, including the U.S.

Sub Title:

Chikungunya is a vaccine preventable disease

References:

CNEA releases sterile mosquitoes

Tracing the evolution of the chikungunya virus in Argentina, 2016-2023

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Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 06:30

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from Pixabay