Virus

Scientists identified more than 600 viruses in samples taken from bathrooms in the United States. The viruses infect bacteria — not people — and scientists say they may provide more benefits than causes for concern.

Data from the Southern Hemisphere hint that this year's flu shot lowers the risk of hospitalization among vulnerable demographics.

Unlike past flu shots, flu vaccines for the 2024-2025 season don't contain the "Yamagata lineage" of influenza viruses because evidence suggests that type of flu no longer exists.

The latest human case of bird flu in the U.S. occurred in a patient with no reported exposure to affected animals, sparking questions over whether the virus is spreading between people. Experts say that's unlikely but argue the case raises other concerns.

There's a new way to screen for high-risk HPV, a viral infection that can lead to cervical cancer. This alternative method of collecting samples for cervical cancer screening doesn't require a speculum.

Recent cases of a viral illness nicknamed "triple E" have occurred in New England. Here's what you should know about the disease.

People could previously get the nasal spray flu vaccine, called FluMist, from a health care provider, but now they can administer it themselves.

Giving children saline nose drops at the start of a cold may shorten its duration and reduce the likelihood that they will pass the illness to others, a study hints. But it has some caveats.

A new tool can reveal whether someone has a "healthy" gut microbiome with a simple score — but how does it work?

New research suggests that hospitalized patients with flu who start taking Tamiflu the day they are admitted are 40% less likely to die within a month than those treated just days later.