A virus is defined as any of a various number of submicroscopic parasites that can infect any animal, plant or bacteria and often lead to very serious or even deadly diseases. A virus consists of a core of RNA or DNA, generally surrounded by a protein, lipid or glycoprotein coat, or some combination of the three. No virus can replicate without the help of a host cell, and though they can be spread, viruses lack the ability of self-reproduction and are not always considered to be living organisms in the regular sense.Some of the most common or best known viruses include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is the virus that causes AIDS, the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores, smallpox, multiple sclerosis, and the human papilloma virus, now believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer in adult women. The common human cold is also caused by a virus.Since a great deal of mystery still surrounds the origins of most modern viruses, ways to cure these viruses and the diseases they cause are still in the very early stages of development.
Latest about Viruses, Infections & Disease
Doctors discover live worms growing under a woman's eyelid in China
An office worker in Beijing developed a parasitic infection that caused worms to grow under her right eyelid.
Stone man disease: A rare condition that causes a person to grow a second skeleton
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an extremely rare congenital condition that causes the body to grow a second skeleton, rendering patients immobile.
Cervical cancer deaths have plummeted among young women, US study finds
A new study has revealed that cervical cancer deaths have strongly declined in the U.S. since 2016, likely due to increased rates of HPV vaccination.
How to avoid bird flu
The vast majority of human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. have resulted from direct contact with animals, so a few simple precautions can keep most people's risk very low.
Bird flu strikes 1st child in the US — CDC says infection source unknown
A child in California caught bird flu amid a recall of raw milk in the state, but investigations have found no evidence that the case was caused by raw milk.
Do any infectious diseases have a 100% fatality rate?
Researchers have made great strides to prevent deaths from fatal diseases, but the cures for some of them still elude us.
Over 150,000 pounds of ground beef recalled nationwide after E. coli contamination
At least 15 people have fallen sick as a result of eating contaminated ground beef, and health officials warn that the products may still be lurking in restaurant refrigerators.
Do HEPA filters remove viruses?
REFERENCE Do HEPA filters remove viruses, and what's the science behind them?
