Recent advances in vaccines against viral haemorrhagic fevers

Development of vaccines against viral haemorrhagic fevers is a public healt h priority. Recent advances in our knowledge of pathogenesis and of the imm une responses elicited by these viruses emphasize the crucial role of the i mmune system in the control of infection, but also its probable involvement in pathogenesis. Several vaccine candidates against viral haemorrhagic fev ers have been evaluated in animals during the past year. Together, these da ta suggest that a vaccine approach against viral haemorrhagic fevers is fea sible, should induce well-balanced immune responses with cellular and humor al components, and should avoid the potential deleterious effects that are associated with such immune responses. Curr Opin Infect Dis 14:513-518. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.