title: [To live happily, we live secretly. The knowledge of virus reservoirs is essential for the fight against infectious diseases].
abstract: The concept of virusreservoir is defined and illustrated. It corresponds to the site where the microorganisms survive "cachés et heureux". The definite control of infectious diseases consists, whenever possible, of the elimination of the responsible organisms from their reservoir. Frequently the virusreservoir was originally thought to be located in the proximity of man, but later investigations showed many reservoirs to be situated at much greater ecological distance. In many situations the phenomenon of latency plays an important role. This phenomenon is badly understood and a better understanding of its mechanisms could offer means to combat the microorganisms and the diseases they cause.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pattyn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D006801:Humans; D017735:Virus Latency