The humoral response to Zika virus infection and vaccination

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

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Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an RNA virus transmitted by mosquitoes that has recently emerged as a significant threat to public health. Although ZIKV has been known for over sixty years, it was not a major cause of human disease until recently. The first large ZIKV outbreak occurred in Yap Island (Micronesia) in 2007, infecting about three-quarters of the population, followed by outbreaks on other Pacific Islands before spreading to South America in 2015. Over 40 countries in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States, have now reported locally acquired infections. While the public health emergency posed by ZIKV passed within just a few years, ZIKV remains a potential threat in the Americas due to the entrenched presence of the Aedes mosquitoes that transmit the virus to humans. Population-level immunity has waned since the 2015–2016 epidemic, leaving the population increasingly susceptible. Persistent urbanization, resource limitations, and limited vector control sustain ecological niches for transmission, while reduced surveillance heightens the risk of delayed detection. These conditions extend to parts of the United States, particularly the Gulf Coast and other regions where Aedes mosquitoes are established, underscoring the risk of re-emergence with direct implications for U.S. public health.