Viruses are microscopic infectious agents that are commonly known for their role in causing disease. They contain either RNA or DNA as their genetic material and need to infect host cells in order to survive and replicate. Some of the most famous viruses that infect humans include influenza (or the flu), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola. However, viruses are not the only infectious agents; bacteria, fungi and parasites can also all trigger diseases. Furthermore, there are a plethora of conditions that are not spread from one person to the next, known as "non-communicable diseases." These include cancer, diabetes, heart disease and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's. Learn more about the latest research concerning viruses, infections and diseases in our articles below.
Discover more about virus, infections and disease
—Could bacteria or viruses lurking in ancient Egyptian mummies unleash a plague today?
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COVID-19 mRNA vaccines can trigger the immune system to recognize and kill cancer, research finds
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A toddler accidently ate gonorrhea bacteria from a lab dish
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Could simple blood tests identify cancer earlier?
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'The Big One' could be even worse than COVID-19. Here's what epidemiologist Michael Osterholm says we can learn from past pandemics.
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AI can now be used to design brand-new viruses. Can we stop it from making the next devastating bioweapon?
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HPV vaccination drives cervical cancer rates down in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people
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Wildfire-smoke-related deaths in the US could climb to 70,000 per year by 2050 due to climate change, study finds
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Vaccines hold tantalizing promise in the fight against dementia
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Dementia: What are the signs and symptoms of dementia, and how is it treated?
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There's a new blood test for Alzheimer's — here's how it works
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Shingles vaccine may directly guard against dementia, study hints
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Man nearly guaranteed to get early Alzheimer's is still disease-free in his 70s — how?
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'Reanimated' herpes viruses lurking in the brain may link concussions and dementia
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Nearly half of global dementia cases could be delayed or prevented, scientists say
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'Look at all this we don't understand': Study unravels whole new layer of Alzheimer's disease
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Active ingredient in Viagra tied to lower Alzheimer's risk — but don't get too excited
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COVID-19 mRNA vaccines can trigger the immune system to recognize and kill cancer, research finds
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Could simple blood tests identify cancer earlier?
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HPV vaccination drives cervical cancer rates down in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people
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Diet change could make brain cancer easier to treat, early study hints
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'Universal' cancer vaccine heading to human trials could be useful for 'all forms of cancer'
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Planned C-sections linked to increased risk of childhood leukemia in study: What to know
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Why is heart cancer so rare?
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'PAC-MANN' uses magnets and glowing 'probes' to detect signs of pancreatic cancer
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Weird swelling of man's fingers and toes revealed cancer had 'completely replaced' the bones with lesions
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Have you gotten this year's COVID vaccine?
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OpinionCOVID-19 vaccines for kids are mired in uncertainty amid conflicting federal guidance
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1 in 22 COVID survivors develop debilitating chronic syndrome
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Older adults should get 2 doses of the updated COVID shot, CDC says
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Newfound autoimmune syndrome tied to COVID-19 can trigger deadly lung scarring
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COVID pandemic knocked 1.6 years off global life expectancy, study finds
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Vaccines slash risk of long COVID, studies show
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Rare clotting effect of early COVID shots finally explained — what could that mean for future vaccines?
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Can antiviral drugs prevent long COVID?
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Ebola: Causes, symptoms, treatments & vaccines
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Ebola can linger in brain fluid and trigger deadly relapse, monkey study suggests
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Ebola may have lingered in a survivor for 5 years before sparking new outbreak
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Japan Just Imported Ebola to Prep for Possible Olympic Outbreak
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Patient Tested for Ebola in Pennsylvania
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Anti-Vaccine Movement Joins Ebola, Drug Resistance on List of Top Global Threats
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Scientists Discover a Sixth Species of Ebola Virus — in Bats
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How Bats Could Help Scientists Stop Ebola Outbreaks Before They Start
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Here's How Health Officials Plan to Use the Ebola Vaccine in New African Outbreak
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Ebola: Causes, symptoms, treatments & vaccines
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Ebola can linger in brain fluid and trigger deadly relapse, monkey study suggests
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Ebola may have lingered in a survivor for 5 years before sparking new outbreak
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Japan Just Imported Ebola to Prep for Possible Olympic Outbreak
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Patient Tested for Ebola in Pennsylvania
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Anti-Vaccine Movement Joins Ebola, Drug Resistance on List of Top Global Threats
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Scientists Discover a Sixth Species of Ebola Virus — in Bats
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How Bats Could Help Scientists Stop Ebola Outbreaks Before They Start
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Here's How Health Officials Plan to Use the Ebola Vaccine in New African Outbreak
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Flu: Facts about seasonal influenza and bird flu
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Brain damage reported in 13% of kids who have died of flu this season, CDC finds
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This year's flu shot was up to 78% effective at preventing hospitalization in kids, early data finds
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The US is having its most active flu season in 15 years
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2nd form of bird flu detected in US cows
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US reports 1st outbreak of 'highly pathogenic' H5N9 virus in poultry. Should we worry?
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1st deadly case of H5N1 bird flu reported in US
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Pet cats in Los Angeles County are catching bird flu from raw food, milk
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Avian influenza: Bird flu spread triggers state of emergency in California
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Experimental HIV vaccines show promise in early safety test
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HIV/AIDS: Facts about the viral infection that attacks the immune system
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Nearly 3 million extra deaths by 2030 could result from HIV funding cuts, study suggests
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Single-shot HIV treatment suppresses virus 10,000-fold for months, animal study finds
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HIV prevention drug found 100% effective in clinical trial
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In a 1st, HIV vaccine triggers rare and elusive antibodies in humans
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New trial hints at a possible HIV cure approach: Wake up latent virus hiding in the body, then kill it
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Teens use HIV prevention meds way more if they get these simple interventions
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Kids under 5 with HIV are dying at high rates. Here's why.
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Florida releasing genetically modified mosquitoes to prevent diseases like Zika
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Ebola, Zika & More: How Many Viruses Can Get into Men's Semen?
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About 10% of Pregnant Women with Zika Had Babies with Birth Defects
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Zika to Weed: 8 Huge Health Stories from 2016
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Men with Vasectomies Can Still Spread Zika Via Sex, Report Suggests
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Zika Can Cause Birth Defects in Monkeys Too
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Zika Pesticide Controversy: Is 'Naled' Dangerous to Human Health?
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Crying Zika: Virus Material Found in Tears
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In Babies, Zika Can Linger for Months, Brazilian Case Suggests
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Wildfire-smoke-related deaths in the US could climb to 70,000 per year by 2050 due to climate change, study finds
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'Russian nesting doll' virus hides inside a deadly fungus, making it even more dangerous to people
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Diet change could make brain cancer easier to treat, early study hints
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