Chapter 12 - Zika virus, pathology, and control: Zika vaccine strategies in development

Abstract

Mosquito-borne Zika virus has recently become a problem of public health. Zika virus now circulates in many regions of the world and the global incidence of Zika disease has dramatically increased in the last decade. Zika virus infection can cause severe diseases in humans, including congenital neurological defects (congenital Zika syndrome) and Guillain-Barré syndrome. An effective vaccine strategy is urgently needed to prevent Zika virus infection in target populations at high risk, in particular the women in procreative age. Such a Zika vaccine candidate is expected to afford a robust and long-term protection against Zika virus regardless of the route of transmission. In this chapter, particular attention is paid to information on target populations for Zika virus vaccination and on the most promising vaccine candidates in development.