(Left) A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.(Right) SARS-CoV-2 is proven on this colorized transmission electron micrograph.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images and Science Source
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Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images and Science Source
(Left) A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.(Right) SARS-CoV-2 is proven on this colorized transmission electron micrograph.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images and Science Source
Even although 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. But 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 puzzled about vaccines, not simply right here, however world wide. And why is there this unusual subset of people that by no means appear to get COVID?
But simply as we have 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 have been stunned by a extra contagious and extreme HIV variant in addition to international outbreaks of vaccine-derived polio, together with circumstances in New York.
And scientists reminded us to not underestimate viruses.
Finally, a severe international outbreak of mpox got here on so abruptly that President Biden declared a public well being emergency within the U.S.
Keeping up with viruses in 2022 was like a sport 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 crew comes up with a COVID vaccine that may very well be a worldwide sport changer
Peter Hotez and Maria Elena Bottazzi used an oldie-but-goodie know-how to plan a vaccine that is simple to make — and comparatively low-cost. Then they made their recipe out there to all nations. Published January 5, 2022.
Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi of Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that might show helpful to nations with fewer assets.
Max Trautner/Texas Children’s Hospital
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Max Trautner/Texas Children’s Hospital
Dr. Peter Hotez and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi of Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine have developed a COVID-19 vaccine that might show helpful to nations with fewer assets.
Max Trautner/Texas Children’s Hospital
A second model of omicron is spreading. Here’s why scientists are on alert
It’s a sibling of the primary omicron variant that swept the world. Is it extra contagious? Does it trigger extreme illness? Will it maintain present omicron surges going? Researchers are searching for solutions. Published January 27, 2022.
A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images
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Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images
A pc-generated picture of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images
Rare monkeypox outbreak in U.Okay., Europe and U.S.: What is it and may we fear?
The circumstances level to doable sexual transmission of this cousin of smallpox — a beforehand unknown methodology of unfold for monkeypox. Published May 18, 2022.
Symptoms of the monkeypox virus are proven on a affected person’s hand, from a 2003 case within the United States. In most cases, the illness causes fever and painful, pus-filled blisters. New circumstances within the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal are spreading presumably by way of sexual contact, which had not beforehand been linked to monkeypox transmission.
CDC/Getty Images
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CDC/Getty Images
Symptoms of the monkeypox virus are proven on a affected person’s hand, from a 2003 case within the United States. In most cases, the illness causes fever and painful, pus-filled blisters. New circumstances within the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal are spreading presumably by way of sexual contact, which had not beforehand been linked to monkeypox transmission.
CDC/Getty Images
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. circumstances to find out if the variant causes milder illness. Even if the reply is sure, they are saying, charges of hospitalization may very well be excessive through the surge. Published 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 by way of Getty Images
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Paul Ellis/AFP by way of Getty Images
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 by way of Getty Images
So you have not caught COVID but. Does that imply you are a superdodger?
A brand new examine means that, sure, there are superdodgers. But explaining why they have been capable of keep away from the virus is a bit difficult. Published September 7, 2022.
Do some folks 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 folks have built-in safety in opposition to a COVID an infection?
Laura Gao for NPR
The way forward for the pandemic is wanting clearer as we study extra about an infection
Scientists are starting to give you solutions to the query of how lengthy antibodies from an an infection can defend you — and what they’re going to defend you from. Published 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 Source
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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.
Monkeypox: The myths, misconceptions — and details — about the way you catch it
Is it a sexually transmitted illness? Can you get it on a crowded bus? Trying on garments? We discuss to specialists about how this virus is transmitted and what sorts of precautions are warranted. Published August 5, 2022.
An individual arrives for a monkeypox vaccination at a New York well being care middle.
Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS
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Eduardo Munoz/REUTERS
An individual arrives for a monkeypox vaccination at a New York well being care middle.
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 folks get extra extreme and transmissible HIV than others — and function a reminder that viruses do not at all times weaken over time. Published February 4, 2022.
A colorized electron microscope picture from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 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 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 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
Countries in Africa, the Middle East and elements of Asia are counting extra circumstances of vaccine-derived polio. Now there is a probably U.S. case. Researchers are searching for methods to cease it. Published April 26, 2022.
A well being employee administers the oral polio vaccine to a younger lady as different youngsters wait for his or her flip at a college in Karachi, Pakistan on February 28, 2022. In response to an uptick in circumstances 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 by way of Getty Images
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Rizwan Tabassum /AFP by way of Getty Images
A well being employee administers the oral polio vaccine to a younger lady as different youngsters wait for his or her flip at a college in Karachi, Pakistan on February 28, 2022. In response to an uptick in circumstances 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 by way of Getty Images