Although vaccines are still the most powerful weapon against viruses, in recent decades antiviral drugs have been developed to specifically target viruses as they replicate in their hosts.
Kuigi vaktsiinid on ikka veel kõige tõhusamad relvad viiruste vastu, on viimastel kümnenditel arendatud välja antiviraalseid ravimeid, mis ründavad viirusi, kui need peremeesorganismis paljunevad.