Premiere: Vienna Chikungunya Vaccine is Here

The first vaccine against Chikungunya, developed by the Austrian-French pharmaceutical company Valneva in Vienna, is now available in Austria. This allows travelers to protect themselves from infection in countries where the virus is endemic, the manufacturer announced in a press release on Thursday. It is expected that the burden will continue to increase due to climate change. The mosquitoes that transmit the virus are spreading to more and more countries.

Numerous Chikungunya Cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) now considers Chikungunya to be a major and growing public health problem. Outbreaks have been reported in more than 110 countries, and in some regions, the virus is even constantly present. These include countries in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. The Chikungunya virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and can cause general malaise with acute fever and severe muscle and joint pain. The joint pain can lead to impairments in daily life and last for weeks, sometimes even years.

According to the European health authority ECDC, 620,000 Chikungunya cases were registered worldwide in 2024. A study published in the "British Medical Journal (BMJ) Global Health" reported 18.7 million cases between 2011 and 2020, with about 7.9 million people developing chronic symptoms. Experts believe that the actual number of people affected by Chikungunya is underestimated due to difficulties in diagnosis and reporting.

Valneva Developed Vaccine

The vaccine IXCHIQ, developed by Valneva in Vienna, can now be ordered in all pharmacies in Austria and administered as a single dose to adults aged 18 and over. The vaccine is currently approved in the USA, the UK, the EU, and Canada. Valneva is working with partners on programs to make the vaccine available in low- and middle-income countries, according to the press release.

(APA/Red)

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