Enterovirus EV-A71 Vaccine Licensure: What’s next?

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com neurological complications and cardiopulmonary diseases in young children [1-5]. In the past two decades, coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) have been the predominant etiologic agents of herpangina (HA) and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) epidemics [5-7]. Several other enterovirus serotypes frequently co-circulate with EV-A71 and CV-A16 in sporadic and large epidemics [5]. HFMD has become a major health issue and a substantial economic burden throughout the AsiaPacific region [4,5,7]. Following the near complete eradication of poliovirus, EV-A71 has emerged as a major neurotropic virus responsible for severe neurological complications and fatal outcomes and has been recognized by WHO as a rising health threat in Asia. In the absence of approved antiviral treatment, the development of an efficacious prophylactic vaccine against EVA71 was urgently needed.