(Left) A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.(Proper) SARS-CoV-2 is proven on this colorized transmission electron micrograph.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Photos and Science Supply
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Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Photos and Science Supply
(Left) A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.(Proper) SARS-CoV-2 is proven on this colorized transmission electron micrograph.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Photos and Science Supply
Despite the fact that the general public’s curiosity within the pandemic started to wane in its third yr, COVID nonetheless grabbed the highest spots for our most-read tales. However this yr it needed to share the highlight with different viruses — notably mpox, HIV and polio.
With COVID, we spent the early a part of the yr scrutinizing the omicron variant. How unhealthy is it? How immune are we? Why does it have a sibling? And we questioned about vaccines, not simply right here, however all over the world. And why is there this unusual subset of people that by no means appear to get COVID?
However simply as we had been all wrapping our minds round COVID variants, and feeling fairly good in regards to the concepts that viruses may weaken over time and will even be behind us, we had been stunned by a extra contagious and extreme HIV variant in addition to world outbreaks of vaccine-derived polio, together with instances in New York.
And scientists reminded us to not underestimate viruses.
Lastly, a severe world outbreak of mpox got here on so immediately that President Biden declared a public well being emergency within the U.S.
Maintaining with viruses in 2022 was like a recreation of Whac-A-Mole — as quickly as you felt you had one discovered one other would pop up, solely to be adopted by a variant of the primary one.
Ranked right here so as of recognition are the infectious-disease tales you most needed to learn from us in 2022. We hope we answered your most urgent questions!
A Texas group comes up with a COVID vaccine that could possibly be a worldwide recreation changer
Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi used an oldie-but-goodie expertise to plan a vaccine that is straightforward to make — and comparatively low cost. Then they made their recipe accessible to all nations. Revealed January 5, 2022.
Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi of Texas Kids’s Hospital and Baylor Faculty of Drugs have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that might show useful to nations with fewer sources.
Max Trautner/Texas Kids’s Hospital
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Max Trautner/Texas Kids’s Hospital
Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi of Texas Kids’s Hospital and Baylor Faculty of Drugs have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that might show useful to nations with fewer sources.
Max Trautner/Texas Kids’s Hospital
A second model of omicron is spreading. Here is why scientists are on alert
It is a sibling of the primary omicron variant that swept the world. Is it extra contagious? Does it trigger extreme illness? Will it hold present omicron surges going? Researchers are in search of solutions. Revealed January 27, 2022.
A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Photos
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Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Photos
A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Photos
Uncommon monkeypox outbreak in U.Okay., Europe and U.S.: What’s it and will we fear?
The instances level to potential sexual transmission of this cousin of smallpox — a beforehand unknown technique of unfold for monkeypox. Revealed Could 18, 2022.
Signs of the monkeypox virus are proven on a affected person’s hand, from a 2003 case in the US. In most situations, the illness causes fever and painful, pus-filled blisters. New instances in the UK, Spain and Portugal are spreading probably via sexual contact, which had not beforehand been linked to monkeypox transmission.
CDC/Getty Photos
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CDC/Getty Photos
Signs of the monkeypox virus are proven on a affected person’s hand, from a 2003 case in the US. In most situations, the illness causes fever and painful, pus-filled blisters. New instances in the UK, Spain and Portugal are spreading probably via sexual contact, which had not beforehand been linked to monkeypox transmission.
CDC/Getty Photos
What we all know in regards to the signs — and the severity — of the omicron variant
Researchers are taking a look at information from U.S. instances to find out if the variant causes milder illness. Even when the reply is sure, they are saying, charges of hospitalization could possibly be excessive through the surge. Revealed January 6, 2022.
A commuter masks up for a bus experience in Liverpool, England. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged within the U.Okay. and is now dominant within the U.S. as properly. There’s now information indicating simply how extreme its signs is perhaps.
Paul Ellis/AFP through Getty Photos
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Paul Ellis/AFP through Getty Photos
A commuter masks up for a bus experience in Liverpool, England. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has surged within the U.Okay. and is now dominant within the U.S. as properly. There’s now information indicating simply how extreme its signs is perhaps.
Paul Ellis/AFP through Getty Photos
So you have not caught COVID but. Does that imply you are a superdodger?
A brand new examine means that, sure, there are superdodgers. However explaining why they have been capable of keep away from the virus is a bit sophisticated. Revealed September 7, 2022.
Do some individuals have built-in safety in opposition to a COVID an infection?
Laura Gao for NPR
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Laura Gao for NPR
Do some individuals have built-in safety in opposition to a COVID an infection?
Laura Gao for NPR
The way forward for the pandemic is trying clearer as we be taught extra about an infection
Scientists are starting to give you solutions to the query of how lengthy antibodies from an an infection can shield you — and what they will shield you from. Revealed February 7, 2022.
SARS-CoV-2 is proven on this colorized transmission electron micrograph. This specimen was remoted from a affected person within the U.S. Particles of the virus are proven rising from the floor of cells cultured within the lab.
Science Supply
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Science Supply
SARS-CoV-2 is proven on this colorized transmission electron micrograph. This specimen was remoted from a affected person within the U.S. Particles of the virus are proven rising from the floor of cells cultured within the lab.
Science Supply
Monkeypox: The myths, misconceptions — and information — about the way you catch it
Is it a sexually transmitted illness? Are you able to get it on a crowded bus? Attempting on garments? We speak to specialists about how this virus is transmitted and what sorts of precautions are warranted. Revealed August 5, 2022.
An individual arrives for a monkeypox vaccination at a New York well being care heart.
Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS
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Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS
An individual arrives for a monkeypox vaccination at a New York well being care heart.
Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS
Discovery of HIV variant reveals virus can evolve to be extra extreme — and contagious
Findings from a brand new examine assist reply questions on why some individuals get extra extreme and transmissible HIV than others — and function a reminder that viruses do not all the time weaken over time. Revealed February 4, 2022.
A colorized electron microscope picture from the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments reveals a single human immunodeficiency virus budding from a human immune cell.
AP
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AP
A colorized electron microscope picture from the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments reveals a single human immunodeficiency virus budding from a human immune cell.
AP
How the U.S. case may tie into the worldwide upswing in polio
International locations in Africa, the Center East and elements of Asia are counting extra instances of vaccine-derived polio. Now there is a possible U.S. case. Researchers are in search of methods to cease it. Revealed April 26, 2022.
A well being employee administers the oral polio vaccine to a younger lady as different kids wait for his or her flip at a faculty in Karachi, Pakistan on February 28, 2022. In response to an uptick in instances of vaccine-derived polio — a type of the illness that stems from the oral vaccine — many nations are rolling out a brand new oral polio vaccine.
Rizwan Tabassum /AFP through Getty Photos
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Rizwan Tabassum /AFP through Getty Photos
A well being employee administers the oral polio vaccine to a younger lady as different kids wait for his or her flip at a faculty in Karachi, Pakistan on February 28, 2022. In response to an uptick in instances of vaccine-derived polio — a type of the illness that stems from the oral vaccine — many nations are rolling out a brand new oral polio vaccine.
Rizwan Tabassum /AFP through Getty Photos
