This argument can be further substantiated by the fact that the MMR vaccine was not introduced into Britain until 1988, but a rise in autism had begun a decade before. Furthermore the introduction of the vaccine did not appear to increase the incidence in any way. Despite this evidence, which clearly denies a strong causal relationship between autism and the MMR vaccine, parents are still skeptical as to vaccinating their kids. Vaccination rates have been falling and there is concern that this may hamper the elimination of rubella in Britain, which up until this point was becoming quite probable. He sounds excited Research at the CDC by Deborah Spotts and John Roehrig indicates that outbreaks of Venezuelan equine encephalitis are predictable based on the virus' sensitivity to interferon.
Interferons are instrumental in the clearance of pathogens such as viruses from the body.
Certain strains which are not resistant to interferons cannot replicte to the levels necessary for the virus to be transmitted to humans by the mosquito vector. Virus isolated from mosquito vetors can be assayed to establish the virus' sensitivity to interferons. The virus can then be monitered to predict if and when resistance is acquired and take whatever precautions may be necessary to prevent an epidemic. The rubella virus, like any other virus shows certain sequence variations in its genome in order to optimize its replication abilities in different environments and conditions. Sequencing of the genome can be a major tool for clinicians studying the virus and its related diseases.