Virus Articles
Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to virus including topics such as stomach virus, avian flu virus, and yellow fever. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.
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The bird flu is generally rare in humans, but there is concern that it may soon cause a pandemic. This eMedTV resource examines bird flu in humans and birds (especially the H5N1 strain), including transmission, symptoms, and treatment options.
As this eMedTV Web page explains, yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus (which is found in certain parts of Africa and South America). This page discusses yellow fever and its history, transmission, and treatment.
Smallpox is an infectious disease that is characterized by bumps on the face and body. This part of the eMedTV site offers an in-depth look at the history of smallpox, with information on its causes, symptoms, and prevention methods.
Found in parts of Africa and South America, the yellow fever virus is a virus that causes yellow fever. This eMedTV segment discusses the yellow fever virus in detail, including information on how it is transmitted by mosquitoes.
A "stomach virus" does not affect the stomach -- it affects the small intestine. This eMedTV article identifies the four types of viruses that may cause a stomach virus, describes the symptoms they cause, and explains how they are treated.
Symptoms of bird flu can include typical influenza-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches. This eMedTV article describes these possible symptoms of bird flu in detail, in addition to more serious symptoms of bird flu.
A norovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause what is often called "stomach flu." This eMedTV article explains what a norovirus is, discusses how it is transmitted, and lists the illnesses it may cause.
This eMedTV resource discusses H5N1, including where it is prevalent and how it spreads. Although the virus does not usually infect people, more than 130 human cases of H5N1 have been reported by the World Health Organization since January 2004.
Bird flu symptoms can range from mild symptoms, like fever and body aches, to life-threatening ones, such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress. This page of the eMedTV website discusses potential bird flu symptoms in detail.
A bird flu pandemic is a global outbreak of a new virus strain that causes serious human illness and spreads easily from person to person. This eMedTV article describes bird flu pandemic in detail, including the stages and phases of a pandemic.
The H5N1 virus does not usually infect people. As this page of the eMedTV library explains, human cases are due to direct contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces. Health officials are monitoring H5N1, however, in case of outbreak.
Human infection with the avian flu virus is rare, and is often associated with contact with infected birds. This eMedTV article explains the avian flu virus in detail, including the various types and the potential threat posed to humans.
Viruses that cause bird flu occur naturally in wild birds worldwide, but are rarely found in humans. This portion of the eMedTV website answers the question, "What is bird flu?" in detail, including why it's a concern for humans.
While there is no bird flu vaccine available yet to protect against the H5N1 strain of the virus, development efforts are underway. This eMedTV article discusses antiviral drugs (such as zanamavir) that are available in lieu of a bird flu vaccine.
The influenza virus is not only highly contagious -- it also is highly changeable. This page of the eMedTV website examines the influenza virus in detail, including subtypes, how it is transmitted, and what makes it so changeable.
This page of the eMedTV website explains the organization of the HIV virus and which class of viruses it belongs to: retrovirus. Because the HIV virus is a retrovirus, it has to make a copy of its DNA inside a host cell in order to replicate.
Smallpox symptoms can include flu-like symptoms such as high fever, tiredness, and body aches. As this eMedTV page explains, however, smallpox symptoms gradually develop into rashes in the mouth, throat, and eventually the rest of the body.
The rhinovirus is the cause of the common cold in an estimated 30 to 35 percent of all adults. This eMedTV article explains how a rhinovirus is transmitted and offers treatment tips and prevention strategies.
Mild symptoms of yellow fever can include fever, headache, bloody nose, and nausea. This section of the eMedTV archives describes these symptoms in more detail and explains the three stages of serious yellow fever symptoms.
The cause of smallpox is directly linked to the variola virus. This section of the eMedTV archives explores the cause of smallpox and offers information on the transmission of the disease and the success of the smallpox vaccination.