Stay Awesome
CHIKUNGUNYA
Find most of the information you need in these resources
Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!
Other useful links and further reading:
Recent Updates & News
14th May 2025: Worth a read of NaTHNaC's perspective on the recent adverse events data...
and here is the USA approach to it. "Suspend Use of Live Attenuated Chikungunya Vaccine in Adults Aged 60+, Agencies Advise"
7th May 2025: Announcement from Valneva following an EMA announcement on use of IXCHIQ in the older age groups. EMA has suspended the use of the vaccine for individuals over 65 years old but has maintained current recommendations for IXCHIQ for people from 12 to 64 years of age.
1st May 2025: A second Chik vaccine approved by MHRA!!! Vimkunya vaccine approved to prevent disease caused by the chikungunya virus in people 12 years of age and older
30th April 2025: Interesting blog by my good friend and colleague Michelle Hunter. What Do We Know About The New Chikungunya Vaccine So Far?
April 2025: French health authorities suspend use of Valneva's chikungunya vaccine in older adults to probe 3 hospitalizations, one death
14th April 2025: Brazil authorises Valneva’s chikungunya vaccine (marking the first approval of a chikungunya vaccine in an endemic country- YAY!). Brazil has been the hardest hit country in the Americas, recording more than 1 million cases between January 2019 and July 2024. Definitely needed and will further open up more data and trial possibilities.
21st March 2025: Chikungunya wave hits Sri Lanka
27th Feb 2025: CDC investigating hospitalizations of five people who recently received chikungunya vaccine
4th Feb 2025: IXCHIQ has a UK licence!
Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation
Did you know....
According to the CDC:
Chikungunya virus is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected mosquito of the Aedes spp., predominantly Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on viremic nonhuman or human primates, both of which are likely the main amplifying reservoirs of the virus. Humans are typically viremic shortly before and in the first 2–6 days of illness.
Bloodborne transmission is possible; 1 case has been documented in a health care worker who sustained a needle stick after drawing blood from an infected patient. Furthermore, chikungunya virus has been identified in donated blood products undergoing screening, although no transfusion-associated cases have been identified to date. Cases also have been documented among laboratory personnel handling infected blood, through percutaneous punctures, and through aerosol exposure in the laboratory.
Maternal–fetal transmission has been documented during pregnancy; the greatest risk occurs in the perinatal period when the pregnant woman is viremic at the time of delivery. Although chikungunya viral RNA was identified in the breast milk of 1 infected person, the breastfed infant had no symptoms or evidence of infection based on laboratory testing. Additionally, chikungunya viral RNA has been identified in semen, but no evidence of sexual transmission has been noted to date.
