The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first vaccine to prevent the disease caused by the chikungunya virus. The biological allowed for adult patients with an increased risk of exposure to infection.
The approved drug is named Drunk. It is made in the laboratory of Valneva Austria GmbH. It consists of a live and weakened version of the virus that has the ability to improve the body’s immunity.
The health agency assured that “today’s approval addresses an unmet medical need and is an important advance in the prevention of a potentially debilitating disease with limited treatment options.”
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The drug has proven its effectiveness. However, the FDA warns against that There are still side effects that need to be addressed by the manufacturer.. The regulatory authority asked the laboratory to carry out post-marketing studies on the vaccine to ensure that it does not show serious risks.
In a pre-authorization analysis, the pharmaceutical company discovered that the virus used as an active ingredient in the vaccine continued to circulate in the blood stream of patients during the first weeks of inoculation. Biologic prescribing information alerts providers that, at this time, it is not known whether the modified variant of the virus used can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to the fetus. It is also unclear whether the vaccine virus has implications for the newborn.
The medical evidence presented by the FDA details that side effects of immunization include headache, muscle and joint pain, fever, tenderness at the injection site and fatigue. About 2% of the 3,500 people who participated in the trials had serious adverse reactions that required medical intervention.
Scientists assure that Ixchiq is the best option to protect people who are most vulnerable to chikungunya. Until now, there is no specific treatment to counteract the effects of the virus.
Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, explained that “chikungunya virus infection can cause serious illness and long-term health problems, especially in the elderly and individuals with underlying conditions in medicine.”
Chikungunya cases are increasing worldwide
Chikungunya is transmitted through the bite of a female mosquito. Temples of the Egyptians. Health experts consider it an emerging threat to global health without a specific treatment. On the other hand, its rapid expansion due to climate change is worrying. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 5 million infections have been recorded in the last 15 years. The agency says deaths and serious cases are rare.
In Latin America, the number of infections has increased dramatically. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported that more than 214,000 cases have been recorded in the region so far in 2023. Thais dos Santos, advisor of Surveillance and Control of Arboviral Diseases at PAHO, explained that the number represents an increase of 128% compared to the same period last year, and 264% compared to the previous four years.
