EU watchdog approves first vaccine against chikungunya virus

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended the use of Valneva's single-shot vaccine for chikungunya virus, the regulator said on Friday.

With the approval from the European Commission following this recommendation, the French vaccine maker's VLA1553 will be the first preventive shot to be approved in Europe for adults suffering from the mosquito-borne disease, according to Reuters.

VLA1553 received the US health regulator's nod in November last year and is sold in the country under the brand name Ixchiq.

During late-stage trials, the vaccine-induced antibody levels that could neutralise the chikungunya virus in 98.9 per cent of participants for 28 days post-vaccination.

Currently, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends rest, fluids and the use of analgesics and antipyretics to treat the symptoms of chikungunya.

In 2023, about 500,000 chikungunya cases and over 400 deaths were reported worldwide.