Viral Infections

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a rare but serious disease of the lungs caused by hantaviruses. These viruses are mainly spread to people through contact with the droppings, urine, or saliva of infected rodents. The disease was first identified in the United States in 1993 during an outbreak in the Four Corners region. Since then, … Read more

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a serious viral disease that spreads to humans mainly through tick bites or contact with the blood or tissues of infected animals and people. It begins suddenly with high fever, headache, muscle pain, and dizziness. In severe cases, it can cause bleeding under the skin (petechiae), nosebleeds, and bleeding in … Read more

Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a rare but serious illness caused by the Marburg virus, which belongs to the same virus family as Ebola. The disease was first identified in 1967 during outbreaks in Germany and what is now Serbia, after laboratory workers were exposed to African green monkeys brought from Uganda. In nature, the … Read more

West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes that can occasionally cause serious illness affecting the brain and nervous system. Most people who become infected do not show any symptoms, or they may develop only mild flu-like signs such as fever, headache, and tiredness. In rare cases, especially among older adults or people with … Read more

Yellow fever is a viral disease caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), which belongs to the Flavivirus family. It spreads to humans mainly through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, though other species such as Haemagogus and Sabethes can also transmit it in forested areas. The disease is most common in tropical and … Read more

COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. It was first detected in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and soon spread worldwide, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global pandemic in March 2020. The virus mainly spreads through tiny droplets and particles released when an infected person breathes, talks, coughs, … Read more

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious illness caused by influenza viruses. These viruses mainly affect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu occurs worldwide and can affect people of all ages. The severity ranges from mild cases that improve on their own to serious illness that may require hospital care or, in … Read more

The common cold is a short-term viral infection that mainly affects the nose and throat. Typical symptoms include sneezing, coughing, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and tiredness. Some people may also develop a mild fever or feel unwell in general. In most healthy individuals, the cold improves on its own within about a week. … Read more