World’s First Vaccine for Chikungunya Approved

Context:

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. granted approval to the world’s first vaccine for chikungunya on November 9.

Ixchiq – World’s First Vaccine for Chikungunya

• Manufacturer: Valneva (European)
• Vaccine Name: Ixchiq
• Eligibility: Individuals aged 18 or older at an increased risk of chikungunya exposure.
• Vaccine Administration:
• • Dosage: Single-dose injection into the muscle.
  • Composition: Live, weakened chikungunya virus.

About Chikungunya Disease:

• Chikungunya disease, is characterised by severe joint pain and impaired mobility, and comes with fever. 
• Transmission: It is a viral infection (CHIKV) transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and has been described as “an emerging global health threat.”

• Treatment: As of now, there is no cure, only symptomatic relief, with analgesics to help with the pain, antipyretics for the fever, rest, and adequate fluids.
• Prevention: It includes mosquito control activities.
• Prevalent of Chikungunya: Brazil, Paraguay, India (as per the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, India had 93,455 suspected chikungunya cases until September in 2023), and parts of western Africa.

News Source: The Hindu