Once and future epidemics: Zika virus emerging

Sir,
we read with interest your article on Zika virus emerging and we would like to call attention to the scientific production "boom" that usually follows an outbreak.
The recent outbreaks of Zika virus and Ebola virus revealed a phenomenon of published works about these subjects. Zika virus first reported in 1947 [1] and Ebola virus in 1976 [2] presented a low number of published works until 2014. Using the Pubmed search engine in February, 10th 2016, and the words “Zika virus” we found a total number of 164 published works; using the words “Ebola virus” we found a total number of 3362. Interestingly, about Zika virus, we have the absolute major part of the publications in the years 2014 to 2016 with a total number of 100 works 60,9% of the scientific production on this subject. About Ebola virus, also, the major part of the publications in the years of 2014 to 2016 with a total number of 1744 works 51,9% of the scientific production on this subject. These numbers reveal the necessity that urges on the scientific community to find answers to be able to fight against an important infectious disease. Otherwise it also reveals that the interest about the disease is related to the impact of the pathogen and then the necessity to find answers to the questions about the new outbreak. The question is: Why do we keep on working in response to an outbreak and not preventively? The Ebola virus, one of the most dangerous pathogens known, since the first outbreak revealed how it could be deadly, but until the recent outbreak almost nothing was done to develop a treatment or a vaccine against this virus. The technology used to conduct the technical experiments and produce the high number of papers during 2014-2016 were already available in the recent previous years. The scientific community could have developed all the works during 2010 or 2012 or earlier and the response to Ebola outbreaks could have been more effective since the first cases detected leading to a minor number of deaths. The same situation could be repeated with Zika virus and the recent report associating this virus to microcephaly [3]. Why only during outbreaks we see forces being jointed to produce works and understand the diseases? This is time for a change. The way science is made needs to change. Or, will we wait until the next virus outbreak?

References:

1. Dick GW, Kitchen SF, Haddow AJ. Zika virus. I. Isolations and serological specificity. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1952;46:509-20.

2. Emond RT, Evans B, Bowen ET, Lloyd G. A case of Ebola virus infection. Br Med J. 1977 Aug 27;2(6086):541-4.

3. Mlakar J, Korva M, Tul N, Popović M, Poljšak-Prijatelj M, Mraz J, Kolenc M, Resman Rus K, Vesnaver Vipotnik T, Fabjan Vodušek V, Vizjak A, Pižem J, Petrovec M, Avšič Županc T. Zika Virus Associated with Microcephaly. N Engl J Med. 2016 Feb 10.