Another Immunization in our not-too-distant future?

I was just reading in the Washington Post about another mosquito transmitted virus that is similar to Dengue Fever called Chikungunya. It causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. It is rarely fatal and once you have had it you can't get it again due to the antibodies your body develops. It features sudden onset fever usually lasting two to seven days, and joint pains typically lasting weeks or months but sometimes years.

Due to the Ebola outbreak, reporting about it has been a bit sparse. It was first noted in Tanzania in 1952, but recently has been rapidly spreading to all corners of the globe (even Australia.) As of 2014, over 750,000 cases have been reported in the Americas (including the US) and the Caribbean. One press report claimed it has resulted in a reduction of tourism to these areas. Another report included a map showing much more of the world is now affected than the map in the WHO article below.

The good news is that initial testing of candidate vaccines this year at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)at the US National Institutes of Health, and at labs in France and Germany have been very successful (100% protection.) I didn't see any reporting about when a vaccine might be available. It could eventually be combined with the measles vaccine. Various labs are working on a Dengue Fever vaccine as well.

WHO report on Chikungunya

Don't forget your DEET and Permethrin in potential mosquito areas.