Antiviral drugs are still not particularly effective. But the widespread use of vaccines and advances in vaccinology have effectively brought smallpox, poliomyelitis, and other viral diseases under control. Now that even influenza can be inoculated against, humanity faces a significantly reduced threat from viral disease.
至於抗病毒藥物，目前並沒有專屬的特效藥可以醫治，然而疫苗技術的成熟與普及，使得天花、小兒麻痺等因病毒而起的傳染病，可以得到有效控制，甚至流行性感冒都有疫苗可供接種，病毒對於人類的威脅也逐漸減輕。