Professor Cameron Simmons shares his insights on the gaps in knowledge, policy complexities and the response thus far in the efforts to contain, prevent and treat the Zika virus. With a large outbreak in Brazil last year, the Zika virus has spread rapidly across the Americas, causing birth defects such as microcephaly. While there is much we do know experts are still discovering how the virus affects the human body and US authorities report a vaccine could be years away.

Cameron Simmons is a professor from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The University of Melbourne. He has had an extensive career in molecular biology, immunology, infectious diseases and clinical trials. After completing his PhD at The University of Melbourne, he undertook post-doctoral work at Imperial College, London and worked with the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City within the Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Before his current tenure at The University of Melbourne, Professor Simmons was appointed Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Oxford. His research focus is Dengue and he regularly works in Vietnam and Indonesia.