Understanding reassortment is crucial in epidemiology for several reasons:
Emergence of New Strains: Reassortment can lead to the emergence of new virus strains with different antigenic properties. This can result in pandemics if the new strain is capable of human-to-human transmission and the population lacks immunity. Vaccine Development: Reassortment plays a significant role in the development of vaccines, particularly for influenza, where vaccine strains are often selected based on their ability to generate an immune response against circulating strains. Antiviral Resistance: Reassortment can contribute to the spread of antiviral resistance if resistant segments are incorporated into new viral strains.
