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Abstract
The alphaviruses represent a small group of arthropod-transmitted viruses that produce a variety of diseases worldwide. Their biochemical, molecular and epidemiological characteristics have been carefully defined and they often serve as models for other viruses with similar genome strategies. Nevertheless, control of diseases caused by these viruses has not been particularly successful and significant epidemics are still regularly reported from the Americas and the South Pacific. This article outlines what is currently known about the alphaviruses and summarises the problems involved and the methods available for their control. Recent developments that have been published in the patent literature are also reviewed.