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"Viruses can jump between different species via the same modes of transmission that apply to humans, including direct contact with infected fluids, or getting bitten by other species, amongst ...
Other viruses, such as rabies virus, can infect different species of mammals and are said to have a broad range. [13]: 631 The viruses that infect plants are harmless to animals, and most viruses that infect other animals are harmless to humans.
Different viruses can infect all the organs and tissues of the body and the outcomes range from mild or no symptoms, to life-threatening diseases. [5] Humans cannot be infected by plant or insect viruses, but they are susceptible to infections with viruses from other vertebrates. These are called viral zoonoses or zoonotic infections. [6]
[5] [6] [7] Human infection with animal influenza viruses is rare, as they do not transmit easily to or among humans. [8] However, avian and swine influenza viruses in particular possess high zoonotic potential, [9] and these occasionally recombine with human strains of the flu and can cause pandemics such as the 2009 swine flu. [10]
Not all viruses are harmful, and many don’t infect humans. But ones that do cause can cause COVID, flu, hepatitis, shingles, herpes, measles, colds and many other illnesses.
The diversity of human viruses is vast and continually expanding. As of now, there are 219 known species of viruses that can infect humans. This number continues to grow with three to four new species being discovered every year. The human virome is not stable and may change over time. In fact, new viruses are discovered constantly.
The genetic changes usually happen when different strains of the virus co-infect animals, particularly birds and swine. Although many viruses of vertebrates are restricted to one species, influenza virus is an exception. [191] The last pandemic of the 19th century occurred in 1899 and resulted in the deaths of 250,000 people in Europe.
Viral infections can cause disease in humans, animals and plants. In healthy humans and animals, infections are usually eliminated by the immune system, which can provide lifetime immunity to the host for that virus. Antibiotics, which work against bacteria, have no impact, but antiviral drugs can treat life-threatening infections. Those ...