WP11 meeting with a focus on Chikungunya
On the 10th April researchers from the Durable consortium came together online to share their current research insights on Chikungunya.
The session featured a consortium-wide collaborative presentation by Etienne Simon-Lorière (Institut Pasteur) and Gijs van Nierop (Erasmus MC) together with help from Hayley Cassidy (Erasmus MC) and Christina Merakou (ISS). During this collaborative presentation the following topics were covered:
- Genomic evolution of CHIKV – cross-country overview and implications for vector competence and HERA
- Deep mutational scanning – impact of emerging mutations
- Immunity and vaccines – key updates
- Epidemiological update – Cuba/Suriname outbreaks
Chikungunya is a virus spread by mosquitoes that is becoming a growing concern worldwide and increasingly in Europe. In 2025, countries like France and Italy already saw hundreds of local infections, besides cases brought in by travellers. The virus is evolving in ways that make it easier to spread through specific types of mosquitos that are now common in parts of Europe. This means future outbreaks in Europe are becoming more likely.
Chikungunya can cause severe and long-lasting joint pain, sometimes lasting for years, which has a big impact on people’s quality of life. There are now vaccines available, but there are still important questions. One vaccine raised safety concerns in some groups, while another appears safer but needs more research to understand how well it works over time.
The Durable researchers are continuing to study how the virus spreads, how it changes, and how vaccines can be improved. The key message coming from this meeting is that Europe needs to be better prepared for possible outbreaks in the coming years.
