MRNA innovation: preparing for arboviruses and the next global outbreak

Aedes-borne arboviruses, including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis, are rapidly expanding their global reach, with recent outbreaks occurring in non-endemic regions such as southern Europe and the southern United States. Environmental suitability in parts of South America, Asia, and Africa supports continued high transmission potential, while re-emerging pathogens like Oropouche fever further highlight the threat. Current vaccines-though effective in specific contexts-face significant limitations in coverage, safety, and adaptability, underscoring the urgent need for innovative approaches. Advances in mRNA technology, including multivalent self-amplifying RNA platforms, offer a rapid, flexible solution with strong preclinical efficacy against multiple arboviruses. By synthesizing recent epidemiological data, vaccine developments, and translational research, this work calls for accelerated investment, global collaboration, and preparedness strategies to enable timely deployment of next-generation vaccines before the next major outbreak.