Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

World's first deaths from Oropouche fever recorded in Brazil

The world's first deaths have been recorded from Oropouche fever, caused by a mosquito-borne virus that has spread silently from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, raising alarm among scientists.

2 Aug 2024

Study reveals how coinfecting phages impede each other’s entry into bacterial cells

The process by which phages - viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria - enter cells has been studied for over 50 years.

2 Aug 2024

CEPI and WHO call for urgent global research to prepare for the next pandemic

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today called on researchers and governments to strengthen and accelerate global research to prepare for the next pandemic.

2 Aug 2024

Study reveals new H5N1 variants evade human antibodies more effectively

In a new study led by UNC Charlotte researchers from the Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER) and the North Carolina Research Campus at Kannapolis, University scholars have found evidence that the latest variants of H5N1 influenza - commonly known as avian or bird flu - are better at evading antibodies, including those of humans, than previous iterations of the virus.

2 Aug 2024

Oropouche virus: Emerging threats and unanswered questions

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Oropouche virus (genus Orthobunyavirus, family Peribunyaviridae) is an arthropod-borne virus that infects several species of animals and humans, primarily in South America.

1 Aug 2024

Blowflies linked to bird flu spread in southern Japan

Researchers from Kyushu University have discovered that blowflies, a family of flies strongly attracted to decaying flesh and feces, are carrying the bird flu virus in southern Japan.

1 Aug 2024

New nanosensing technique enhances quality control for gene therapy vectors

Over the past few decades, there has been remarkable progress in genetic manipulation technologies, bringing us closer to the point where genes can be modified in vivo.

1 Aug 2024

Climate change-driven migrations worsen infectious diseases in vulnerable regions

Climate change-driven migrations increase infectious disease risks by spreading pathogens and overcrowding vulnerable regions, demanding urgent, targeted interventions.

1 Aug 2024

COVID-19 significantly increases risk of hearing loss in young adults, study finds

Young adults with COVID-19 face a significantly higher risk of hearing loss and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Researchers urge awareness and further investigation into COVID-19-related auditory damage.

31 Jul 2024

AI reprograms glioblastoma cells into dendritic cells for cancer immunotherapy

In an innovative new study of glioblastoma, scientists used artificial intelligence (AI) to reprogram cancer cells, converting them into dendritic cells (DCs), which can identify cancer cells and direct other immune cells to kill them.

31 Jul 2024

Nasal COVID-19 vaccine shows promise in preventing virus spread

The lightning-fast development of COVID-19 vaccines just months after the virus appeared was a triumph of modern science and saved millions of lives.

31 Jul 2024

Bird flu cases are going undetected, new study suggests. It’s a problem for all of us.

A new study lends weight to fears that more livestock workers have gotten the bird flu than has been reported.

31 Jul 2024

Stem cell therapy advances: MSCs show potential in managing COVID-19 and influenza infections

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. The emergence of infectious diseases, including viral zoonoses, has allowed intensive research into novel therapeutic approaches.

31 Jul 2024

Wildlife species show high SARS-CoV-2 exposure linked to human activity

Researchers found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in six wildlife species and higher seroprevalence in high human activity areas. Seven new human-to-animal transmission events of the Omicron variant were identified.

30 Jul 2024

Study reveals link between illicit fentanyl use and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs

An international team of researchers from University of California San Diego and el Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Mexico have revealed a significant association between the use of illicit fentanyl and the transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico.

30 Jul 2024

California lawmakers debate sending local health inspectors into immigration facilities

Covid-19, mumps, and chickenpox outbreaks. Contaminated water, moldy food, and air ducts spewing black dust.

30 Jul 2024

Maternal immune response to flu linked to fetal brain changes

A bad case of the flu during pregnancy can increase the risk for fetal neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. But it's not the virus itself doing the damage; it's the mother's immune response.

29 Jul 2024

Health authorities warn about bird flu risks in raw milk and undercooked foods

With bird flu virus detected in cow's milk, U.S. health authorities have warned the public against potential sources of exposure, including drinking raw or unpasteurized milk, and have reiterated a general warning that consuming uncooked or undercooked poultry or beef products can make you sick.

29 Jul 2024

SARS-CoV-2 detected in common wildlife species

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to Virginia Tech research published Monday (July 29, 2024) in Nature Communications.

29 Jul 2024

The CDC’s test for bird flu works, but it has issues

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a glitch in its bird flu test hasn't harmed the agency's outbreak response. But it has ignited scrutiny of its go-it-alone approach in testing for emerging pathogens.

26 Jul 2024