This month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Trusted Source the approval the first vaccine to treat Chikungunya, a tropical disease.
The drug, named Ixchiq and produced by Austrian firm Valneva, is to be used to prevent infections with Chikungunya virus, which predominantly occur in semi-tropical and tropical areas like South and Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Chikungunya virus is carried by mosquitoes and was first identified in the 1950’s, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source. It’s characterized by symptoms that are similar to other mosquito-borne viruses like Zika and dengue.
Those symptoms include muscle soreness, fever, fatigue, and joint pain.
Ixchiq was approved after being put on the fast track by the FDA. It was also given priority review.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the countries currently experiencing the highest cases include Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia.