Zika Vaccines: Current State

While its existence was first noted in the 1940s, Zika virus has only recently become a human pathogen of importance. The most common cause of human virus transmission is through exposure to Aedes species mosquitoes. Given the global distribution of Aedes mosquitoes, a large percentage of the world’s population live in areas where exposure can occur. Infection typically results in mild disease; however, serious neurologic complications can occur, especially in the developing fetus. This chapter provides the history and epidemiology of the virus, outlines vaccine development activities currently taking place to combat the disease, and describes the scientific and ethical considerations that must be addressed during the vaccine development and testing.