**FDA Approves First Chikungunya Virus Vaccine** The FDA has approved the first vaccine for the chikungunya virus, a disease transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. The vaccine, named Ixchiq and produced by Valneva Austria GmbH, is administered in a single dose to individuals over 18 who are at increased risk of exposure. The vaccine's safety was confirmed through two clinical studies involving about 3,500 adults. Common side effects include headache, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, fever, nausea, and tenderness at the injection site. Severe reactions that interfered with daily activities or required medical intervention occurred in 1.6% of recipients, with two individuals needing hospitalization. Chikungunya is a growing global health threat, with over 5 million cases reported in the last 15 years. The highest risk areas are tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Americas. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, rash, headache, and muscle pain, with some people experiencing joint pain for months or years. Deaths and severe illnesses are rare. In the U.S., chikungunya cases were rare before 2006, with an average of 28 cases per year from 2006 to 2013, all from travelers returning from affected regions. Since 2014, cases have been reported among U.S. travelers returning from the Americas, with local transmission identified in Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the approval of this vaccine addresses an unmet medical need and is a significant advancement in preventing a potentially debilitating disease with limited treatment options.