Context:
United States reports surge in chikungunya cases among travellers from Telangana.
Chikungunya:
- A mosquito-borne viral disease characterized by fever and severe joint pain
- Transmission – Spread by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
- 1st recognised during an outbreak in Tanzania in 1952 and has now been identified in nearly 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
- Dengue and Zika have similar symptoms to chikungunya, making chikungunya easy to misdiagnose.
- Treatment Options – Presently, there is no cure for chikungunya
- Symptomatic relief remains the primary approach with treatment involving the use of analgesics, antipyretics, rest, and adequate fluid intake.
Ixchiq Vaccine:
- A live attenuated vaccine developed to prevent chikungunya virus infection.
- Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023.
- Manufacturer – Developed by Valneva.
- Target Group – Licensed for use in adults aged 18 years and older.
- Given as a single intramuscular dose
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2017 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
