Introduction
Arboviruses (arthropod-borne-virus) are transmitted by arthropods such as blood-sucking insects like mosquitoes, and multiply in vertebrates. Aedes spp. mosquitos are one of the vectors for arboviruses like chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus, both commonly transmitted by Aedes albopictus. The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is primarily spread by Culex mosquitoes.1,2
Over the past century, Aedes albopictus mosquitoes have spread from their natural habitat in Africa to other continents, mostly triggered by increased trade, travel habits, urbanization, and climate change, posing a major global public health threat.1,2
It is important to note that autochthonous cases of JE have not yet been reported in Europe or the USA. However, the history of chikungunya and other widespread arboviruses highlights the need for preparedness measures in these regions.2,3 Of note, JE is widespread in Asian-Pacific countries but there have been reports of finding JE RNA in birds as well as a pool of Culex pipiens mosquitoes sampled in Italy.2
In conclusion, urgent educational initiatives are needed to strengthen preparedness for the potential emergence of arbovirus cases in the USA and Europe.
Arboviral Threats Ahead: Addressing the Global Rise of Chikungunya and Japanese Encephalitis in the Age of Travel and Climate Change
Faculty
David H. Hamer, Prof. MD, FACP, FIDSA, FASTMH, FISTM, Department of Global Health and Medicine, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
Tom Solomon, Prof. CBE, FRCP, FMedSci, Chair of Neurological Science, University of Liverpool and Director of The Pandemic Institute
Aileen Maria Marty, Distinguished U Prof. MD, FACP, Translational Medicine,Division of Internal Medicine, FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
Sarah McGuinness, MBBS, FRACP, MPH&TM, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health and School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Learning Goals/Purposes
The goal of this project is to provide education for HCPs involved in the care of individuals with disease across a variety of clinical settings, specifically focusing on:
Provide an overview of arboviral diseases, focusing on CHIKV and JEV. Discuss the rising global threat posed by these diseases, with emphasis on epidemiology and the spread over the last decades.
Explore how climate change, travel patterns, urbanization, and other factors contribute to the increased incidence of arboviral diseases like CHIKV and JEV.
Discuss real-world patient cases simulations to review risk factors, diagnosis, and prevention strategies for both CHIKV and JEV vaccination, and vector control, while addressing limitations.
Summarize the most important topics HCPs should cover in pre-travel consultations to help travelers reduce the risk of CHIKV and JEV infections.
Learning objectives
After completing this educational activity, learners should be able to:
- Identify the global epidemiology of CHIKV, JEV, and other arboviruses, their life cycles, and their potential spread to non-endemic areas
- List and evaluate the effectiveness of various prevention and control measures for CHIK and JEV infections and other arboviruses, including personal and community protective measures to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate breeding places (i.e., insecticide use)
- Recognize and identify the populations most at risk for CHIK, JE, or other arboviral infections, and offer pre-traveling counseling and vaccinations if indicated
- Recognize the clinical presentations of CHIK, including both acute and chronic forms, JE symptomatology, and other arbovirus infections, and identify relevant diagnostic tools and investigations to facilitate prompt differential diagnosis
- Outline therapeutic goals and list symptomatic treatments recommended in cases of infection, and apply best practices in managing different stages of disease, focusing on pain management and disability prevention
- Apply effective patient education strategies to increase public awareness and reduce the likelihood of transmission in high-risk populations, enhancing patient–doctor pre-travel counselling and providing resources (e.g., WHO, US and European CDCs).
- Describe the need for and foster collaborative initiatives aimed at ensuring equitable access to affordable vaccines, and establish preventive measures in vulnerable populations.
Target Audience
This educational activity is intended for healthcare professionals involved in the care of individuals at risk for or affected by tropical diseases such as Chikungunya and Japanese Encephalitis.
The target audience includes infectious disease specialists, tropical medicine physicians, orthopedists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and pharmacists practicing in global settings.
Enduring Materials CE Activity
Release Date: July 8, 2025
Expiration Date: October 20, 2026
Continuing Education Information
This continuing education activity is provided by AffinityCE and Skymedcare LLC. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses. A statement of participation is available for other attendees.
Disclosures
Faculty disclosures
Dr. David Hamer, has disclosed the following financial relationships:
- Consultant for Bavarian Nordic, Takeda, Valneva; Speaker for Medscape, Bavarian Nordic; and receives research funding from Merck & Co and Takeda.
Dr. Tom Solomon,has disclosed the following financial relationships:
- Grant support from MRC, NIHR, Wellcome; Research support from Innova, CSL Seqirus, AstraZeneca and Aviva.
Remaining Faculty members have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
AffinityCE staff, Skymedcare staff, planners, and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. All faculty disclosures are listed above, available on the program website, and will be stated prior to the start of each presentation.
Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
AffinityCE adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant financial relationships reported have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity through peer review of content by non-conflicted reviewers.
Physicians
 | This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and Skymedcare. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. |
AffinityCE designates this enduring materials activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Assistants
| This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and SEI-Healthcare. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. |
AffinityCE designates this enduring materials activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurse Practitioners
| This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and Skymedcare. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. |
AffinityCE designates this enduring materials activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Nurse Practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses
 | Continuing Nursing Education is provided for this activity through the joint providership of AffinityCE and Skymedcare. AffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides 2.0 contact hour of continuing nursing education credit. |
Pharmacists
 | AffinityCE is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education (CPE). This knowledge-based CPE activity will provide 2.0 contact hour for participants. There is no cost to participate. Participant CE records will be electronically communicated to CPE Monitor. UAN: 0829-999-25-088-H01-P |
Other Professionals
All other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity.
Commercial Support
Educational Support for this activity was provided by an independent medical educational grant from Valneva Austria GmbH.
Participation Costs
There is no cost to participate in this CE activity.
CME Inquiries
For all CME policy-related inquiries, please contact us at info@my-ime.com
How to Earn CE Credit
Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses and other health professionals
1.Go to the following web site:https://my-ime.com/
2.Register or enter your profile ID.
3.Complete the activity. Your CE records will be made available via your Dashboard on My-Ime.com.
Accessing the Program
To join this accredited educational program, please complete your enrollment details.
This is the enduring, on-demand version of the in-person symposium and includes:
- A brief pre-test and knowledge check.
- A full video recording of the symposium, available to view at your convenience.
- Two text-based patient vignettes that were discussed during the symposium, available for review within the platform.
CME Accreditation
To be eligible for your CME credits, you must:
- Complete the full program.
- Successfully complete the post-test and submit the evaluation form within the platform.
Once enrolled, you can log in at any time using your registered email and password via the Login button at the top left-hand corner of the website.
1. Meyding-Lamadé U, Craemer E, Schnitzler P. Emerging and re-emerging viruses affecting the nervous system. Neurol Res Pract. 2019;1:20. doi: 10.1186/s42466-019-0020-6.
2. Monath TP. Japanese encephalitis: risk of emergence in the United States and the resulting impact. Viruses. 2023;16(1):54. doi: 10.3390/v16010054.
3 Gossner CM, Dhollander S, Presser LD, Briet O, Bakonyi T, Schaffner F, Figuerola J. Potential for emergence of Japanese encephalitis in the European Union. Zoonoses
