Zika – an update on the vaccine pipeline

Written by Martha Powell, Editor, Infectious Diseases Hub

The race towards a vaccine for Zika virus began after its designation as a Public Health Emergency by the WHO in February 2016. The disease was confirmed to cause neurological complications, specifically in neonates seen when pregnant mothers have become infected, initiating a surge in research and development. However, this in itself raises some issues around creating a vaccine; for example, safety must be paramount when a key target group is women of child-bearing age, some of whom may already be pregnant. Moreover, in related flaviviruses, such as dengue, it has been demonstrated that sequential infections can be more severe,...

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