Dengue Virus Virulence and Transmission Determinants

Abstract

Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, which assumed pandemic proportions during the latter half of the last century, have shown no indication of slowing their growth during this first decade of the twenty first century. Challenges remain in understanding the basic mechanisms of viral replication and disease pathogene-sis, in clinical management of patients and in control of dengue viral transmission. Nevertheless, new tools and insights have led to major recent scientific advances. As the first candidate vaccines enter large-scale efficacy trials, there is reason to hope that we may soon ‘‘turn the corner’’ on this disease.