Viral diseases : what tools are needed to combat new pathogenic viruses?

It took the development of electron microscopes to visualize viruses, too small to be identified like bacteria using optical microscopes. The characterization and classification of viruses has enabled us to understand the great diversity of the viral world (DNA viruses, RNA viruses, etc.). Vaccination is the key to combating viruses (smallpox and poliomyelitis have been eradicated thanks to effective vaccines). What can be done against highly pathogenic viruses for which no vaccine exists? The lack of antivirals to treat epidemics of resistant influenza or Ebola-like viruses was discussed in the lecture. There is an urgent need to develop new antivirals to deal with major health crises, as has been the case in West Africa since late 2013 with the Ebola virus. The case of the Chikungunya virus was also raised.