Abstract
BACKGROUND: Driven by climate change and urbanization, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has evolved from being a localized pathogen to being a global pandemic threat. This bibliometric analysis maps 20 years (2004-2025) of global CHIKV research to identify priorities and gaps in pandemic preparedness. METHODS: We analyzed 8,125 publications from the Web of Science using bibliometrix (R) and VOSviewer, examining output trends, collaboration networks, thematic evolution (keyword co-occurrence), and alignment with containment needs. RESULTS: Annual publications surged 7-fold after 2013, peaking during epidemics (e.g., Caribbean 2013-2014, Réunion 2024). Research was dominated by the USA, Brazil, France, and India, which formed distinct regional hubs. Thematic clusters revealed rising priorities: vaccine development (proportional growth: +7.1% during 2020-2025; candidates such as VLA1553 emerged) and climate-driven transmission ("environmental health" became central after 2022). Persistent gaps included diagnostic overlap with dengue/Zika and reactive outbreak responses (emergency-focused keywords, e.g., "emergency response and crisis management", declined from 15.5% to 7.2%). International collaborations favored high-income/endemic nations, with limited equity. CONCLUSION: While CHIKV research increasingly addresses vaccines and climate drivers, critical weaknesses remain in terms of equitable collaboration, climate-adaptive surveillance, and integrated interventions. We advocate for predictive modeling, rapid-response vaccine platforms, and embedding CHIKV preparedness within climate-resilient health policies to transform reactive efforts into sustained pandemic resilience.