NIAID officials call for increased research into Zika virus

Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), along with colleague Catharine I. Paules, recently published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association calling for continued research into the Zika virus even as individual diagnoses decrease.

ZIka virus is spread through the bite of Aedes species mosquitoes and produces mild symptoms in most patients. The virus, however, has been linked to serious fetal malformations in pregnant women and Guillen-Barrè syndrome in some adults. The authors said that Zika poses a public health threat both during the acute phase of the epidemic and as it establishes endemicity.

Fauci cited recent experiences with other arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and chikungunya virus that demonstrate how fading interest in diseases can transition from an initial outbreak to endemicity.

WNV first appeared in the United States in 1999 and caused multiple cases of encephalitis in the New York City area. Since that time, approximately three million infections have been diagnosed. While NIAID assisted in a promising investigational vaccine to prevent infection, the product was ultimately shelved due to a lack of industry interest in its further development.

Chikungunya virus first appeared in the Americas in 2003 and causes high fever, rashes, and debilitating joint pain. Currently, several chikungunya vaccines are in development.

Fauci said a continued focus on research will be needed to better understand disease pathogenesis and to develop effective vaccines and treatments.