Viral Diseases
Battling Pandemic Viruses Like Avian Influenza
Authors: Maggie L. Bartlett, PhD, and Sten Vermund, MD, PhD The increasing number of avian influenza spillovers to non-bird species demands innovation to prevent a future influenza pandemic. As deadly as the coronavirus pandemic has been, the catastrophic potential of influenza viruses is much worse. The 1918-1919 influenza pandemic infected a third of the world’s…
Read MoreDengue virus: Urgency in our warming world
Why is this important? In the summer of 2023, Mexico and countries in Central America and the Caribbean were in the news because of extensive outbreaks of the mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) (1). These outbreaks were at least partially weather-related: Warmer temperatures exacerbated by El Niño and global warming are linked to heavier-than-normal precipitation…
Read MoreResponding to Long COVID Responsibly
To effectively address the unique challenges presented by Long COVID, the Global Virus Network recommends a unified and integrated approach involving the public, policymakers, and those involved in the research enterprise and in healthcare systems to create and implement policy changes, support continuing research, foster awareness, and advocate for—and initiate—multi-specialty care. * …
Read MoreMarburg Virus Disease: Another Filovirus Zoonosis
Recently, Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), Ebola’s equally deadly cousin, emerged in Tanzania and in at least three separate locations in Equatorial Guinea. The two countries are on opposite sides of Africa’s coast and separated by thousands of kilometers, but both are in the range of Egyptian fruit bats. The bats are the natural hosts for…
Read MoreLassa fever vaccine development: Where are we?
Joseph Anejo-Okopi, PhD1,2. 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, Nigeria. 2AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria Email Address: [email protected], [email protected], December 5, 2022 Introduction Lassa virus (LASV) causes acute viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) called Lassa fever (LF) that is endemic to West Africa (Nigeria,…
Read MoreRespiratory Syncytial Virus: Newly Resurgent
December 5, 2022 Introduction We seem to be in a sort of Golden Age of respiratory viruses, including flu, SARS-CoV2 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is an enveloped negative strand RNA virus with a genome of approximately 15,000 nucleotides encoding 11 proteins. There are two serotypes, A and B, which can be discriminated by…
Read MoreAided by GVN and IHV, Kerala, India Celebrates Major Milestones to Advance Virus Research
Aided by GVN and IHV, Kerala, India Celebrates Major Milestones to Advance Virus Research October 6, 2022 During a conference attended by thousands, Dr. Gallo’s Malayalam Language Edition of “Virus Hunting” Was Released Thousands of students listened to Dr. Robert Gallo’s virtual lecture, “General Reflections on Pandemics and the Importance of the Global Virus Network…
Read MoreLangya Virus
Langya Virus August 15, 2022 A sentinel surveillance study in China has detected the zoonotic Langya henipavirus (Paramyxoviridae) in 35 patients. RNA of the virus was found in 27% of shrews in the wild, revealing a potential animal reservoir. Zoonotic transmission is the first step potentially leading to “jumps” across species. Currently, there is no evidence of…
Read MoreWorld Hepatitis Day 2022
Hundreds of millions of people worldwide are affected by viral hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis B and C are estimated to affect half a billion of people. Many more are affected by acute hepatitis, especially in developing countries, resulting in significant symptoms, including death. Recently, clusters of cases of non A-E viral hepatis have raised concerns, and…
Read MoreGVN Statement on SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.2.75
There is some concern about the new SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.75. Very preliminary data on this variant suggests high growth advantage when compared to earlier variants. The N460K mutation in the Spike protein has been suggested as distinctive, conferring growth advantage to pseudotype virions. Epidemiologists around the world are aware of this variant, and the GVN…
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