Global health R&D at work in Georgia
The Emory University School of Medicine has supported clinical trials of a promising vaccine to prevent infection with the chikungunya virus. Chikungunya is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause persistent joint and muscle pain. The virus, originating in Africa, arrived in the Caribbean several years ago and has since infected an estimated 3 million people in the Americas, including a dozen locally acquired cases in Florida. The vaccine, which is now in late-stage trials, received “fast track” designation from the US Food and Drug Administration to accelerate its eventual review. If approved, the vaccine could be a powerful tool to protect against this debilitating disease.