Chikungunya Outbreak Intensifies: Global Health Challenge and Research Efforts

The 2025 chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreak has rapidly expanded to 119 countries, including temperate regions, posing a significant global health challenge. With approximately 5.6 billion people at risk, the outbreak has prompted intensified research efforts and control measures worldwide.

Outbreak Epicenters and Geographical Spread

The Indian Ocean islands, particularly Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius, have reported major chikungunya outbreaks since early 2025. Alarmingly, the virus has reached temperate regions earlier than anticipated, with locally acquired cases reported in mainland France's Grand Est and southeastern areas.

Multiple factors are driving this surge, including:

• Expanded Aedes mosquito habitats due to climate change
• Increased urbanization and international travel facilitating virus spread
• Low population immunity after years without outbreaks
• Challenges in early detection due to inconsistent surveillance and limited diagnostic resources

Treatment Options and Vaccine Development

As of 2025, no specific antiviral treatments for chikungunya virus exist, with care primarily focused on symptom relief. However, vaccine progress has been made, with two approved options in some countries:

1. IXCHIQ: A live-attenuated vaccine for adults, with restrictions for the elderly
2. VIMKUNYA: A single-dose virus-like particle vaccine for ages 12 and up

Neither vaccine is yet widely available globally or in China. Control efforts continue to rely heavily on mosquito management, early detection, and public awareness campaigns.

Research Advancements and Industry Support

In response to the outbreak, pharmaceutical companies and research institutions have intensified their efforts to develop effective treatments and diagnostic tools. Sino Biological, a key player in this field, has initiated the development of recombinant E1 and E2 proteins (UVE/CHIKV/2024/RE/CNR_79903) along with specific antibodies to support vaccine development, antiviral therapies, and immunodiagnostic assay creation.

Recent studies utilizing Sino Biological's products have yielded promising results:

• Liu T. and Gu D. developed an aptamer-based TRFIA assay to study the binding affinity and specificity of novel peptides to CHIKV E2 antigens.
• Tamburini B. et al. investigated viral antigen acquisition in various cell types in mice infected with recombinant CHIKV E2 antigen.
• Lim H. and Kim K. demonstrated that CHIKV EI/II protein or N-linked glycan mutant E proteins induced lower humoral immune responses than the full-length E protein.
• Wang T. et al. reported that EILV/CHIKV-vaccinated macaques exhibited stronger neutralization titers and higher CHIKV E2 binding IgG responses.

These advancements underscore the critical role of collaborative research efforts in combating the global chikungunya outbreak and developing effective interventions.