Latest news with #CHIKV
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Two serious illnesses 'being spread' in favourite UK holiday destination
Tourists have been given a warning after it emerged two serious illnesses are being transmitted in a favourite holiday destination. British holidaymakers have been issued a health alert regarding two serious diseases found in a popular travel destination. The Foreign Office-supported Travel Health Pro website has disclosed that Dengue and Chikungunya have both been detected in Italy. These illnesses have been identified previously, but all instances were contracted abroad. However, Italian health officials have now reported two new cases diagnosed in individuals who contracted the diseases within the country, raising fears of local transmission. In relation to Dengue, as of 15 July 2025, the Italian health authorities announced the first locally acquired case of the year. This case was reported in the Emilia Romagna region. Additionally, 82 imported cases of the disease have been documented across various regions. Similarly, by the same date, health officials also reported the first locally acquired case of Chikungunya for the year. This case was again identified in the Emilia Romagna region. A further 50 imported cases of the disease have been recorded in several regions. Chikungunya Chikungunya is a viral infection caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus spread through mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that carry chikungunya are active from sunrise to sunset, particularly at dawn and dusk. They breed in natural and man-made containers such as flowerpots and old tyres, which pose a risk factor for transmission if left near human dwellings. Chikungunya, while uncomfortable, is seldom life-threatening. Symptoms typically manifest 4-8 days post an infected mosquito bite and include:. In rare instances, individuals may contract the CHIKV virus without exhibiting any symptoms. While symptoms generally subside within 1–2 weeks, severe joint pain can linger for months or even years. Sporadic reports of complications involving the eyes, nervous system, heart, and digestive system have been noted. There's no specific antiviral treatment for chikungunya. The recommended course of action includes rest, hydration, and over-the-counter pain and fever relievers like ibuprofen or paracetamol. Dengue Dengue is an infectious disease caused by four distinct types (serogroups) of the dengue virus: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. The disease is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. These mosquitoes typically breed in urban areas near human dwellings and are most active during daylight hours. Although unpleasant, dengue is usually a self-limiting illness. However, a small yet significant number of people can develop a more serious infection (severe dengue). Travel health pro has issued a statement saying: "Approximately 40 to 80 per cent of people infected with dengue remain symptom-free. If symptoms do occur, the illness usually begins abruptly with a high fever, and is often accompanied by a severe headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and a rash. Most infections are self-limiting, with a rapid recovery three to four days after the rash appears." They also warned: "A small number of people develop more severe illness with symptoms which can include dangerously low blood pressure (shock), fluid build-up in the lungs and severe bleeding. There is no specific drug treatment for severe dengue illness, although hospital admission and careful management of fever, fluid balance and pain can help with recovery. If left untreated, severe dengue illness can be fatal. With good medical care, death due to severe dengue is typically less than one per cent."
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Valneva Reports Positive Six-Month Antibody Persistence and Safety Phase 2 Results in Children for its Single-Shot Chikungunya Vaccine IXCHIQ®
IXCHIQ® was well tolerated by children aged one to eleven years regardless of the dose or previous chikungunya infection (CHIKV) Antibody levels remained high after six months in both dose groups, although more robust with the full dose Six-month data confirm full dose selection for pivotal Phase 3 trial Saint-Herblain (France), June 5, 2025 – Valneva SE (Nasdaq: VALN; Euronext Paris: VLA), a specialty vaccine company, today announced positive six-month antibody persistence and safety data for its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of two different dose levels of its single-shot chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ®, in 304 children. Partially funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), with support from the European Union, the trial is intended to support a pivotal Phase 3 study in children, which the Company expects to initiate in the first quarter of 2026, with the objective of extending the product label to this age group. Trial VLA1553-221's six-month results were in line with the initial data the Company reported for this trial in January 20251. A full dose (licensed IXCHIQ® formulation and presentation) elicited a more robust immune response in children aged one to eleven years at Day 15 and Day 180 post vaccination compared to a half dose. Overall, the immunological response profile was in line with what was previously observed in adults and adolescents234567. The strong immune response was confirmed in CHIKV-naïve children with a 96.5% seroresponse rate (full dose) at Day 180. VLA1553 was well tolerated in children aged one to eleven years regardless of the dose or previous CHIKV infection. No safety concerns were identified. The comparability of the VLA1553 doses tested in terms of safety and tolerability, along with the more pronounced immune response of the full dose observed for all age groups tested in children up to Day 180 post-vaccination, support the selection of the full dose for use in this population. Juan Carlos Jaramillo M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, said, 'The six months persistence and safety data in children are aligned with the robust antibody response and safety profile we reported in adolescents after a single vaccination. Considering the significant risk chikungunya poses to individuals living in or traveling to endemic areas, it's crucial to ensure that the vaccine is accessible to people of all ages and capable of potentially offering long-term protection from a single shot. This is especially important in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs) where access to vaccines is often limited.' Brazil has reported the highest number of chikungunya cases worldwide, with over one million cases between January 2019 and July 20248, followed by India with 370,000 cases during the same period. This number is rapidly increasing due to the current outbreak in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Telangana, for which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice after identifying higher-than-expected numbers of chikungunya cases in returning travelers9. Additionally, two outbreaks are ongoing on the French islands of La Reunion and Mayotte10. About ChikungunyaChikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne viral disease spread by the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes which causes fever, severe joint and muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. Joint pain is often debilitating and can persist for weeks to years11. In 2004, the disease began to spread quickly, causing large-scale outbreaks around the world. Since the re-emergence of the virus, CHIKV has now been identified in over 110 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas12. Between 2013 and 2023, more than 3.7 million cases were reported in the Americas13 and the economic impact is considered to be significant. The medical and economic burden is expected to grow with climate change as the mosquito vectors that transmit the disease continue to spread geographically. As such, the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted chikungunya as a major public health problem.14 About Phase 2 Trial VLA1553-221 VLA1553-221 is a multi-center, randomized, observer-blinded, dose response Phase 2 clinical trial in 304 healthy children aged one to eleven years. The trial is performed at three trial sites in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. The primary and secondary objectives of the trial are to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of two different dose levels of Valneva's single-shot chikungunya vaccine. Participants were randomized 2:2:1 to receive either a full dose (licensed IXCHIQ® formulation and presentation) or a half dose of the vaccine, or an active control (Nimenrix). Additional information, including a detailed description of the trial design, eligibility criteria and investigator sites, is available at (Identifier: NCT06106581). About Valneva SEWe are a specialty vaccine company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases addressing unmet medical needs. We take a highly specialized and targeted approach, applying our deep expertise across multiple vaccine modalities, focused on providing either first-, best- or only-in-class vaccine have a strong track record, having advanced multiple vaccines from early R&D to approvals, and currently market three proprietary travel vaccines, including the world's first and only chikungunya vaccine, as well as certain third-party from our growing commercial business help fuel the continued advancement of our vaccine pipeline. This includes the only Lyme disease vaccine candidate in advanced clinical development, which is partnered with Pfizer, the world's most clinically advanced Shigella vaccine candidate, as well as vaccine candidates against the Zika virus and other global public health threats. More information is available at About CEPICEPI was launched in 2017 as an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic and civil organizations. Its mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI has supported the development of more than 50 vaccine candidates or platform technologies against multiple known high-risk pathogens or a future Disease X. Central to CEPI's pandemic-beating five-year plan for 2022-2026 is the '100 Days Mission' to compress the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days. Learn more at Follow us on X (@CEPIvaccines), LinkedIn and Facebook. About Horizon EuropeHorizon Europe — #HorizonEU — is the European Union's flagship Research and Innovation programme, part of the EU-long-term Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) with a budget of €95,5 billion to spend over a seven-year period (2021-2027). Under Horizon Europe, health research will be supported with the aim to find new ways to keep people healthy, prevent diseases, develop better diagnostics and more effective therapies, use personalised medicine approaches to improve healthcare and wellbeing, and take up innovative health technologies, such as digital ones. Valneva Investor and Media ContactsLaetitia Bachelot-FontaineVP Global Communications & European Investor RelationsM +33 (0)6 4516 Joshua Drumm, Global Investor RelationsM +001 917 815 Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of Valneva, including with respect to use and regulatory review of existing products. In addition, even if the actual results or development of Valneva are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of Valneva may not be sustained in the future. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as 'could,' 'should,' 'may,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'intends,' 'estimates,' 'aims,' 'targets,' or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the current expectations of Valneva as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of Valneva could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties and delays involved in the development and manufacture of vaccines, unexpected clinical trial results or new adverse events, unexpected regulatory actions or delays, competition in general, currency fluctuations, the impact of the global and European credit crisis, and the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection. Success in preclinical studies or earlier clinical trials may not be indicative of results in future clinical trials. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will in fact be realized. Valneva is providing this information as of the date of this press release and disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. 1 Valneva Reports Positive Phase 2 Results in Children for its Chikungunya Vaccine and Announces Phase 3 Dose Decision - Valneva2 Valneva Announces Positive Phase 3 Pivotal Results for its Single-Shot Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate - Valneva3 Valneva Successfully Completes Pivotal Phase 3 Trial of Single-Shot Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate - Valneva4 Lancet Paper: Valneva Reports Positive Initial Phase 3 Safety Data in Adolescents for its Single-Shot Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate - Valneva6 Valneva Reports Positive Pivotal Phase 3 Immunogenicity Data in Adolescents for its Single-Shot Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate - Valneva7 Lancet Paper: 12 PAHO/WHO data: Number of reported cases of chikungunya fever in the Americas (Cumulative Cases 2018-2023 and Cases per year 2013-2017). Last accessed 01 Aug 2023.14 Geographical expansion of cases of dengue and chikungunya beyond the historical areas of transmission in the Region of the Americas ( Attachment 2025_06_05_VLA1553-221_6M_Persistence_Data_PR_EN_FinalError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Trio of killer viruses to hit UK 'any time now' - and there's no treatment
Experts are warning that the UK could soon be at risk of dangerous mosquito-borne viruses, with the tropical diseases set to take hold in Britain for the first time Infectious disease experts are warning that it's a matter of when, not if, climate change will see serious mosquito-borne viruses hit the UK for the first time. Rising temperatures have already created ideal conditions for the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) to spread in London and the southeast - currently the country's warmest regions. This means that diseases once limited to warmer climates - such as dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika - could soon take hold in Britain for the first time. According to the UK Health Security Agency, have already detected eggs in the UK on eight occasions, and Professor Steven Sinkins, an expert in microbiology and tropical medicine at Glasgow University, warns transmission could be right around the corner. "It could happen any time," he told the i Paper. "It is possible that over a hot summer the mosquitoes reach sufficient numbers for transmission to occur. Eggs of this mosquito have been detected in Kent and London in the last few years, and the climate in southern England is suitable for it to become established. If that happens it will both cause biting nuisance and also probably transmit viruses such as dengue and chikungunya in the summertime. "There is growing concern that it will eventually become established in the UK and cause outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, as is being seen in France and Italy. "Dengue can be fatal and chikungunya can cause long-term joint pain and disability." Symptoms of the diseases typically include fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, and joint or muscle pain. These illnesses can prove fatal, particularly for those with pre-existing medical conditions or a compromised immune system. Chikungunya fever (CHIKV) is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes. It cannot be passed from human to human. Its name means "to become contorted" or "stooped walk," referring to the intense joint and muscle pain it causes. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no treatment. The majority of people infected with CHIKV develop a sudden fever and severe pain in multiple joints. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. Symptoms typically appear 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. These symptoms typically resolve within 7 to 10 days, and most patients make a full recovery. However, in some cases joint pain and arthritis may persist for several months or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints. While a chikungunya vaccine has been approved in the UK, there is currently no specific treatment for the infection. The vaccine contains a form of the virus that has been weakened in the laboratory so it cannot multiply. The vaccine works by training the immune system (the body's natural defences) to recognise CHIKV and it is then able to produce specific antibodies which attack the virus. Most people recover within a few weeks, but for some, joint and muscle pain can persist for months or even years after the initial infection. The warning follows news that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently detected West Nile virus in mosquitoes in the UK for the first time. This is believed to be linked to a rise in Aedes vexans mosquitoes - another species capable of transmitting the virus - due to warmer conditions. The UKHSA emphasized that the public risk remains 'very low,' as there is no evidence any infected mosquitoes have bitten humans. The virus was found during routine mosquito surveillance, and is thought to have come from a UK mosquito biting a migratory bird carrying the virus—not from an established local transmission. Currently, West Nile virus is not circulating in the UK. However, if it were to become established, it could spread among birds and mosquitoes, significantly increasing human infection risk. Scientists say this detection highlights the broader concern: as the UK climate warms, the threat from mosquito-borne diseases is growing - and with it, the need for ongoing vigilance and public health preparedness.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Valneva Provides Update Following European Medicines Agency Announcement on Use of IXCHIQ® in Elderly
Juan Carlos Jaramillo, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Valneva, said: 'We are deeply concerned by the reports of adverse events experienced by elderly individuals. Valneva remains committed to upholding the highest safety standards and respects the precautionary measures taken by authorities as investigations continue. The Company will continue to monitor all reported serious adverse events and fully cooperate with health authorities while also actively exploring a potential update to the product's indication.' On April 25, 2025, within the framework of the ongoing vaccination campaign initiated in La Réunion at the beginning of April prioritizing people aged 65 and older with comorbidities 3 , France's national public health agency, the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), suspended its recommendation for use of the vaccine in that age range pending further investigation. The vaccination campaign is maintained for people aged 18 to 64 years of age. 4 Valneva previously reported on changes to recommendations for use of IXCHIQ ® in the U.S. 1 and France 2 . On April 16, 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended a precaution related to the use of Valneva's chikungunya vaccine IXCHIQ ® in persons aged 65 and over. Additionally, EMA highlighted that the exact cause of these serious adverse events and their relationship with the vaccine have not yet been determined and is reminding healthcare professionals that IXCHIQ ® must not be given to people whose immune system is weakened because of disease or medical treatments, as stated in IXCHIQ ® 's Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). The decision was taken following a plenary meeting of the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) on May 5, 2025 and is based on reports of 17 SAEs worldwide (including two deaths) in elderly people with significant underlying medical conditions and/or co-medications. To date, over 40,000 doses of IXCHIQ ® have been used worldwide. Saint Herblain (France), May, 07 2025 – Valneva SE (Nasdaq: VALN; Euronext Paris: VLA), a specialty vaccine company, today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a review of Valneva's single-dose live attenuated chikungunya vaccine IXCHIQ ® based on reports of serious adverse events (SAEs) in elderly people. As a temporary measure, while this review is ongoing, EMA has suspended the use of the vaccine for individuals over 65 years old. EMA has maintained current recommendations for IXCHIQ ® for people from 12 to 64 years of age. Story Continues The Company continues to see a positive risk-benefit in the vast majority of people with potential exposure to the disease. About Chikungunya Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne viral disease spread by the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes which causes fever, severe joint and muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. Joint pain is often debilitating and can persist for weeks to years5. In 2004, the disease began to spread quickly, causing large-scale outbreaks around the world. Since the re-emergence of the virus, CHIKV has now been identified in over 110 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas6. Between 2013 and 2023, more than 3.7 million cases were reported in the Americas7 and the economic impact is considered to be significant. The medical and economic burden is expected to grow with climate change as the mosquito vectors that transmit the disease continue to spread geographically. As such, the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted chikungunya as a major public health problem.8 About Valneva SE We are a specialty vaccine company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases addressing unmet medical needs. We take a highly specialized and targeted approach, applying our deep expertise across multiple vaccine modalities, focused on providing either first-, best- or only-in-class vaccine solutions. We have a strong track record, having advanced multiple vaccines from early R&D to approvals, and currently market three proprietary travel vaccines. Revenues from our growing commercial business help fuel the continued advancement of our vaccine pipeline. This includes the only Lyme disease vaccine candidate in advanced clinical development, which is partnered with Pfizer, the world's most clinically advanced Shigella vaccine candidate, as well as vaccine candidates against the Zika virus and other global public health threats. More information is available at Media and Investor Relations Contacts Laetitia Bachelot-Fontaine VP Global Communications & European Investor Relations M +33 (0)6 4516 7099 Joshua Drumm, Ph.D. VP Global Investor Relations M +001 917 815 4520 Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of Valneva, including with respect to use and regulatory review of existing products. In addition, even if the actual results or development of Valneva are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments of Valneva may not be sustained in the future. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as 'could,' 'should,' 'may,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'intends,' 'estimates,' 'aims,' 'targets,' or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the current expectations of Valneva as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the expectations of Valneva could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties and delays involved in the development and manufacture of vaccines, unexpected clinical trial results or new adverse events, unexpected regulatory actions or delays, competition in general, currency fluctuations, the impact of the global and European credit crisis, and the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection. Success in preclinical studies or earlier clinical trials may not be indicative of results in future clinical trials. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made in this press release will in fact be realized. Valneva is providing this information as of the date of this press release and disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. 1 Valneva Provides Update on ACIP Recommendation for its Chikungunya Vaccine IXCHIQ® Among U.S. Travelers 2 Valneva Provides Update on Recommendation for Use of Its Chikungunya Vaccine by French Authorities 3 Valneva Responds to French Government's Call for Vaccine Supply of IXCHIQ® against Chikungunya Outbreak in La Réunion 4 Valneva Provides Update on Recommendation for Use of Its Chikungunya Vaccine by French Authorities 5 6 7 PAHO/WHO data: Number of reported cases of chikungunya fever in the Americas (Cumulative Cases 2018-2023 and Cases per year 2013-2017). Last accessed 01 Aug 2023. 8 Geographical expansion of cases of dengue and chikungunya beyond the historical areas of transmission in the Region of the Americas ( Attachment
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Pune chikungunya study finds worrying effects in children, one infant needed liver transplant
Pune: There were concerning complications seen in children during last year's chikungunya outbreak, including one case which may be the first documented instance of a patient needing a new liver to recover, a study from Pune has now said. The 2024 chikungunya outbreak was one of Maharashtra's worst. Within 11 months, more than 5,000 people were sickened in the state. Pune was among hotspot cities, recording 462 confirmed cases. Now, in a recently released study of 117 children who were hospitalized between June and September 2024 (during the monsoon) doctors from three city hospitals have said their findings suggest the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is likely evolving genetically to cause potentially life-threatening complications, beyond the typical symptoms of fever and joint pain. All the 117 kids recovered, but 36 needed ICU admission. "These children presented with serious neurological issues, respiratory distress and even organ failure that required intensive care," said Dr Sagar Lad, neonatologist and paediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital (Shastrinagar), and one of the study's authors. The research, recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Critical Care, was conducted by doctors from Jehangir Hospital, Sahyadri Hospital and Shaishav Children's Hospital in Sadashiv Peth. Dr Lad said: "One infant required liver transplantation to survive. To our knowledge, this was the most unusual complication of the infection, causing fulminant hepatic failure. After an extensive search online, we felt it was probably the first case in literature that required liver transplantation followed by successful (chikungunya) recovery." Two children also developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and potentially fatal immune disorder. Six children went into shock requiring emergency cardiovascular support, the researchers said. Additionally, Dr Lad said over half the children in the ICUs (56%) experienced seizures, with some developing status epilepticus, a medical emergency characterized by prolonged seizure activity — either continuous or recurrent — that can lead to serious complications and potentially even death. The doctors said this meant that some of the children with chikungunya didn't just have ordinary seizures, but developed a more severe, persistent seizure that required urgent medical intervention. The study specifically mentioned both status epilepticus and RSE (refractory status epilepticus) among the neurological complications observed in the 117 children. RSE is an even more serious form of status epilepticus that doesn't respond to standard anti-seizure medications. Such severe manifestations, the doctors added, may be linked to genetic changes in the virus, allowing it to multiply more rapidly and trigger even more complicated health issues than just a fever. "The findings suggest chikungunya, often dismissed as less dangerous than dengue, may be evolving into a more serious threat to public health," said Dr Lad, adding that physicians must remain vigilant for atypical presentations, especially during outbreaks. The other doctors involved in the study included Dr Pradeep Suryawanshi from Sahyadri Hospital and Dr Ashish Dhongade, from Shaishav Children's Hospital.
