Washington--A team of US researchers tested a vaccine against the Chikunguña virus, which is currently posing a threat on several countries of the world.

According to a report by the British The Lancet medical magazine, cited by Telesur TV, the vaccine was administered to 25 healthy volunteers, as part of a clinical test to prove the effectiveness of the new product.

Doctor Julie Ledgerwood, with the US National Institute of Health, said the vaccine was well tolerated and most volunteers developed immunological response from the very first injection they received.

Ledgerwood explained that each volunteer was administered three injections.

The development of a vaccine, from the pre-clinical tests up to its introduction at the market has been estimated at between 200 and 500 million dollars, said the spokesperson of the US Center for Disease Control, Ann Power.

Chikunguña is a rare disease that may cause death, while articulation pains may last for months or even years in some people.

Over 193 thousand Chikunguña cases have been reported in the Dominican Republic.