Potential Mechanisms for Enhanced Zika Epidemic and Disease

ACS Infect Dis. 2018 May 11;4(5):656-659. doi: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00004. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Abstract

A number of mechanisms have driven the explosive epidemics and severe diseases of Zika virus since 2007. Here, we comment on how herd immunity, heterologous flavivirus preimmunity, and viral mutations could enhance the epidemic potential and disease severity of Zika virus in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culicidae / virology
  • Epidemics*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Herd*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Zika Virus / genetics*
  • Zika Virus / pathogenicity*
  • Zika Virus Infection / immunology*
  • Zika Virus Infection / transmission