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6 November: In the ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), more than 48 million confirmed cases, including more than 1.2 million deaths, have been documented globally since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

5 November: A cluster of COVID-19 cases associated with mink farming, in which the causative SARS-CoV-2 strain harbours a novel combination of mutations and appears less susceptible to neutralising antibodies, are reported from North Jutland, Denmark; the news triggers the slaughter of all farmed mink across the country. WHO

2 November: In the ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), more than 46 million confirmed cases, including more than 1.2 million deaths, have been documented globally since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

29 October: The Howard Hughes Medical Institute announces a donation to the Henrietta Lacks Foundation, intended as reparation for the harvesting of cervical cancer cells from Lacks in 1951, without her consent; the cells were subsequently used to create the HeLa cell line. Nature

22 October: The US Food and Drug Administration approves the repurposed antiviral remdesivir for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection; the decision has been criticised owing to the drug's apparent lack of benefit in as-yet-unpublished interim results from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Solidarity trial. Science

1 September: WHO increases the regional risk posed by the ongoing outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to high; since the outbreak was detected in June, 110 cases, including 47 deaths, have been reported. WHO

25 August: Africa is declared free from wild poliovirus, with the last case having been detected in Nigeria in 2016; vaccine-derived polio cases continue to be recorded in the region. Nature

25 June: The Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is declared over by the World Health Organization; since the outbreak began in August 2018, 3470 cases were recorded, including 2287 deaths. WHO

4 April: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating rapidly; more than a million confirmed cases, including more than 57,000 deaths, have been documented globally since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

3 April: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating rapidly; more than 975,000 confirmed cases, including more than 50,000 deaths, have been documented globally since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

2 April: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating rapidly; more than 900,000 confirmed cases, including more than 45,000 deaths, have been documented globally since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

1 April: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating rapidly; globally there have been more than 825,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 41,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

31 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been around 755,000 confirmed cases, including more than 36,500 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

30 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been nearly 700,000 confirmed cases, including more than 33,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

29 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been nearly 640,000 confirmed cases, including more than 30,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

28 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been more than 575,000 confirmed cases, including more than 26,500 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

27 March: An international, randomised, non-blinded, clinical trial organised by the World Health Organization of four potential treatments for COVID-19 – remdesivir; chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine; lopinavir/ritonavir; or lopinavir/ritonavir plus interferon-beta – is about to start enrolling patients. Science, WHO

27 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been nearly 510,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 23,500 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

26 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been more than 460,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 21,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

25 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been more than 410,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 18,500 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

24 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been more than 370,000 confirmed cases, including more than 16,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

23 March: The ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus is accelerating; globally there have been more than 330,000 confirmed cases, including more than 14,500 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

21 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been more than 290,000 confirmed cases, including approaching 13,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

20 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been approaching 270,000 confirmed cases, including more than 11,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

19 March (2): The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been more than 230,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 10,000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

19 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been nearly 210,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 8800 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

18 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been more than 190,000 confirmed cases, including more than 7800 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

17 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been nearly 180,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 7500 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

16 March: A phase I clinical trial of a messenger RNA-based vaccine candidate for the novel coronavirus begins in Seattle. NIH

16 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been approaching 170,000 confirmed cases, including more than 6600 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

15 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been more than 150,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 5750 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

14 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been more than 140,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 5400 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

13 March: The epicentre of the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus has moved from China to Europe; globally there have been more than 130,000 confirmed cases, including around 5000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

12 March: In the ongoing pandemic of a novel coronavirus there have been more than 125,000 confirmed cases, including more than 4600 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

11 March: The World Health Organization describes the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus as a pandemic; there have been more than 115,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 4300 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO, 2

10 March: A patient with apparent clearance of HIV after stem-cell therapy continues to have no viable virus detectable in blood or other reservoirs after 30 months without antiretroviral treatment. Lancet

10 March: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus there have been more than 110,000 confirmed cases, including more than 4000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

9 March: No new cases have been recorded in three weeks in the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; as of 3 March there had been a total of 3444 cases, including 2264 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO 1, 2

9 March: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus there have been nearly 110,000 confirmed cases, including around 3800 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

7 March: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus there have been more than 100,000 confirmed cases, including around 3500 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

6 March: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus there have been more than 98,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 3400 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

4 March: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus there have been more than 93,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 3200 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

4 March: No new cases have been recorded in over two weeks in the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; as of 25 February there had been a total of 3444 cases, including 2264 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO 1, 2

2 March: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus there have been around 89,000 confirmed cases, including more than 3000 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

28–29 February: The World Health Organization raises its assessment of the global risk from the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus to "very high"; there have been more than 85,000 confirmed cases, including more than 2900 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO 1, 2

28 February: The World Health Organization raises its assessment of the global risk from the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus to "very high"; there have been more than 83,500 confirmed cases, including more than 2850 deaths, since the outbreak began in December 2019. WHO

26 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, daily reported cases outside China overtook cases inside that country for the first time; there have been more than 81,000 confirmed cases, including more than 2750 deaths, since the outbreak started in December 2019. WHO

23 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been around 79,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 2500 deaths. WHO

21 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been approaching 77,000 clinically diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed cases, including nearly 2250 deaths. WHO

19 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been more than 75,000 clinically diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed cases, including more than 2000 deaths. WHO

18 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been more than 73,000 clinically diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed cases, including more than 1850 deaths. WHO

17 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been around 71,000 clinically diagnosed or laboratory-confirmed cases, including more than 1750 deaths. WHO

16 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been around 52,000 laboratory-confirmed cases, including more than 1650 deaths. WHO

15 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been around 50,500 laboratory-confirmed cases, including more than 1500 deaths. WHO

14 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been around 49,000 laboratory-confirmed cases, including nearly 1400 deaths. WHO

12 February: The ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, according to the World Health Organization; there has been a total of 3432 cases, including 2253 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO 1, 2

12 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 45,171 confirmed cases, including 1115 deaths. WHO

11 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 43,103 confirmed cases, including 1018 deaths. WHO

10 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 40,554 confirmed cases, including 910 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

9 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 37,558 confirmed cases, including 813 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

8 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 34,886 confirmed cases, including 724 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

7 February: Chinese scientists announce that novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is 99% identical to a coronavirus isolated from pangolins, suggesting these animals might be an intermediate host. Nature

7 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 31,481 confirmed cases, including 638 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

6 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 28,276 confirmed cases, including 565 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

5 February: A study of 2,658 samples from 38 different types of cancer found that 16% were associated with a virus, higher than previous estimates, but did not identify any new candidate tumour viruses. Nat Genet

5 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 24,554 confirmed cases, including 492 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

4 February: Over 2500 putative circular DNA virus genomes are catalogued from metagenomic surveys of human and animal samples, including over 600 dissimilar to existing virus groups. eLife, Science

4 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 20,630 confirmed cases, including 426 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

3 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 17,391 confirmed cases, including 362 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

3 February: The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases stops the South African HVTN 702 Phase IIb/III clinical trial of an investigational HIV vaccine early, after the vaccine failed to prevent HIV infection. NIH

2 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 14,557 confirmed cases, including 305 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

1 February: In the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on the Hubei province of China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 11,953 confirmed cases, including 259 deaths; the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

31 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 9826 confirmed cases, including 213 deaths, after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January. WHO 1, 2

30 January: The World Health Organization declares the ongoing outbreak of respiratory disease centred on Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern; there have been 7818 confirmed cases, including 170 deaths. WHO 1, 2

29 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 6065 confirmed cases, including 132 deaths. WHO

28 January: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the rate of new cases has slowed; there has been a total of 3421 cases, including 2242 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

28 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 4593 confirmed cases, including 106 deaths. WHO

27 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 2798 confirmed cases, including 80 deaths. WHO

26 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 2,014 confirmed cases, including 56 deaths. WHO

25 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 1,320 confirmed cases, including 41 deaths. WHO

24 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 846 confirmed cases, including 25 deaths. WHO

23 January: Peter Salama, an Australian epidemiologist who led WHO and UNICEF's responses to Ebola epidemics, dies. WHO

23 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 581 confirmed cases, including 17 deaths. WHO

21 January: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the occurrence of new cases has stabilised at around 14 per week; there has been a total of 3416 cases, including 2238 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

21 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 314 confirmed cases, including six deaths. WHO

20 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 278 confirmed cases, including six deaths. WHO

12 January: In the ongoing outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, China, associated with a novel coronavirus, there have been 41 confirmed cases, including two deaths. WHO

9 January: Preliminary findings suggest that a novel coronavirus is implicated in a cluster of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China. WHO

7 January: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo there has been a total of 3392 cases, including 2235 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

19 December: The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine against Ebola virus is licensed by the U.S. FDA. FDA

December: An outbreak of measles is ongoing in the Pacific Islands, part of a global resurgence of the disease since 2017. WHO

2 July: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – new cases remain stable, with 285 reported in the past 3 weeks, and a total of 2372 cases, including 1602 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO 1, 2

26 June: A meta-analysis of vaccinating girls and women against human papillomavirus including 60 million vaccinees finds that diagnoses of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer in women and of anogenital warts in both women and men have reduced in frequency. Lancet

14 June: The WHO Emergency Committee declares that the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fails to meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, despite the spread to Uganda; a total of 2084 cases, including 1405 deaths, have been reported in DRC since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO 1, 2

12 June: The ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo spreads to neighbouring Uganda. WHO

4 June: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – new cases remain stable, with 280 reported in the past 3 weeks, and a total of 2025 cases, including 1357 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

28 May: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – new cases stabilise, with 309 reported in the past 3 weeks, and a total of 1945 cases, including 1302 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

14 May: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – new cases continue to increase, with 350 reported in the past 3 weeks, and a total of 1739 cases, including 1147 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

7 May: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – there have been 303 new cases reported in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 1600 cases, including 1069 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; security concerns threaten relief efforts. WHO

3 May: In the ongoing Rift Valley fever outbreak in the Mayotte Islands in the Comoro group there have been 129 confirmed cases since the outbreak started in November 2018. WHO

2 May: A European observational study in 972 gay male couples finds no HIV transmission with unprotected sex where the HIV-positive partner's virus is fully suppressed by antiretroviral therapy. Lancet

25 April: A major outbreak of African swine fever ongoing in pigs in China since August 2018 has caused the loss of at least 40 million pigs, and the virus has also been reported elsewhere in Southeast Asia. BBC

23 April: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – there have been 255 new cases in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 1367 cases, including 885 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; security concerns hamper relief efforts, with a WHO epidemiologist being killed in a militia attack on a hospital. WHO

16 April: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – there has been an increase in new cases, 249 in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 1290 cases, including 833 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

15 April: The directors of WHO and UNICEF warn that the more than 110,000 measles cases reported globally in January–March represent a nearly threefold increase over the same period in 2018. CNN

14 April: In the ongoing chikungunya virus outbreak in Congo, 6,149 suspected cases have been reported since the outbreak began in January, with nearly half in Kouilou Department. WHO

9 April: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo – now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history – there has been an increase in new cases, 207 in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 1186 cases, including 751 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018. WHO

29 March: The filamentous bacteriophage Pf is shown to increase the pathogenicity of its bacterial host, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important human pathogen, by protecting it from the immune system in a mouse model. Science

26 March: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 125 new cases in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 1029 cases, including 642 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; this is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. WHO

19 March: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 97 new cases in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 980 cases, including 610 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; this is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. WHO

12 March: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 74 new cases in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 927 cases, including 584 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; this is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. WHO

12 March: The plant nanovirus faba bean necrotic stunt virus – which has a segmented (multi-part) genome, with each of the eight segments being packaged separately – is shown to be able to replicate successfully even when its DNA segments do not all enter the same cell. eLife

8 March: The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses ratifies an update to virus classification, creating the Riboviria taxon for all RNA viruses at the new rank of realm. ICTV

5 March: Another case of apparent clearance of HIV from an infected patient after stem-cell therapy is reported. Nature

5 March: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 76 new cases in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 907 cases, including 569 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; this is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. WHO

5 March: A Danish cohort study in more than 650,000 children confirms that vaccination with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is not associated with autism. Ann Intern Med

20 February: Influenza A viruses that infect bats are shown to use a novel entry route, via the MHC class II HLA-DR isotype, rather than sialic acid. Nature

19 February: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the first clinical trial of intravenously administered phage therapy in the United States. JAMA

7 February: A total of 82,596 measles cases, including 72 deaths, were reported in Europe in 2018, threefold more than in 2017, with the highest incidence rates being in Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia and Albania. WHO 1,2

7 February: NASA studies show that, during the stress of space flights, latent herpesviruses, including Epstein–Barr virus, varicella zoster virus, herpes simplex type 1 and cytomegalovirus, reactivate in more than half of astronauts. Front Microbiol

7 February: Horse racing across Britain is suspended after horses from a Cheshire stable test positive for equine influenza. BBC

5 February: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 119 new cases in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 789 cases, including 488 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; this is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. WHO

29 January: In the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 118 new cases in the past 3 weeks, with a total of 752 cases, including 465 deaths, since the outbreak began in August 2018; this is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history. WHO

28 January: Giant bacteriophages with genomes above 540 kilobases, named "Lak phages", which infect Prevotella gut bacteria, are recovered from human gut samples from Bangladesh and Tanzania. Nat Microbiol

21 January: In the ongoing outbreak of dengue fever in Jamaica, there have been 339 suspected and confirmed cases in the past 3 weeks, including 6 deaths. WHO

20 January: An outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is ongoing in Epuyén, Chubut Province, southern Argentina, with 29 confirmed cases and 11 deaths. WHO

22 June: Vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 is confirmed to be circulating in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, after the country was declared free of the virus in 2000. WHO

16 June: An outbreak of Rift Valley fever has been confirmed in northern Kenya, with 26 human cases mainly in Wajir County, including 6 deaths, as well as widespread deaths and abortions in camels, goats and other livestock. WHO

1 June: In the ongoing outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala state, south India, there have been 18 confirmed cases with 17 deaths in the Kozhikode and Mallapuram districts. WHO

31 May: In the ongoing outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, 75 cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia since 12 January, including 23 deaths. WHO

23 May: An outbreak of measles is ongoing in the Amazonas and Roraima states of Brazil, with 995 suspected cases, including two deaths. WHO

21 May: Vaccination with rVSV-ZEBOV starts in the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the outbreak has spread from rural Bikoro to the city of Mbandaka, with a total of 58 suspected cases reported, including 27 deaths. WHO

21 May: An outbreak of Nipah virus has been confirmed in Kozhikode, Kerala state, south India. BBC

17 May: The sialic acid-bearing cellular receptor for influenza A virus is shown to be the voltage-gated calcium channel, Ca_v1.2. Cell Host & Microbe

17 May: The outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo spreads from rural Bikoro to the city of Mbandaka, with a total of 44 suspected cases reported. WHO

16 May: The cellular receptor for several alphaviruses associated with rheumatic disease, including chikungunya, Mayaro, O'nyong nyong and Ross River viruses, is shown to be the cell adhesion molecule Mxra8. Nature

14 May: IMP-1088, a compound targeting human N-myristoyltransferases NMT1 and NMT2, is shown to prevent three different picornaviruses, rhinovirus, poliovirus and foot-and-mouth disease virus, from assembling capsids in vitro, by inhibiting myristoylation of the picornaviral VP0 protein. Nat Chem

9 May: Hepatitis B virus sequences are recovered from Bronze Age human remains up to 4,500 years old, and the virus is estimated to have evolved 8,600–20,900 years ago, disproving the hypothesis that it originated in the New World and spread to Europe in around the 16th century. Nature

13 April: A study in the mountains of Sierra Nevada, Spain, found that billions of viruses per square meter are deposited from above the planetary boundary layer each day, originating from the Sahara and Atlantic Ocean. NY Times

18 January: The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations commits $460 million to fast-tracking the development of vaccines against MERS coronavirus, Lassa virus and Nipah virus. BBC

18 November: WHO declares that Zika virus transmission and associated conditions are a long-term situation which no longer qualifies as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. WHO

4 October: Capsid protein assemblies of beak and feather disease virus, which infects endangered parrot species, are visualised by X-ray crystallography. Nat Commun

29 September: Zika virus is shown to infect the neural crest cells that develop into the cranium, driving cell death of neural progenitor cells by their impaired cytokine signalling. Cell Host Microbe

28 September: Ranaviruses, which cause severe disease in wild amphibians, are found to be spread in the UK by human activities. Proc R Soc London B

27 September: Rift Valley fever virus infection during pregnancy substantially increased the risk of miscarriage in a cross-sectional study in Sudan. Lancet Global Health

27 September: WHO declares measles to have been eliminated from North and South America. PAHO/WHO

26 September: Broadly neutralising antibodies to HIV are found in 239 HIV⁺ participants in the Swiss Cohort Study, with a significantly higher rate among black people. Nat Med

15 September: In a novel mouse model of hepatitis A virus infection, acute liver inflammation is found to be caused by hepatocyte apoptosis as an intrinsic response to infection. Science

13 September: A broadly neutralising antibody, which binds to the haemagglutinin stem and recognises most influenza A strains, is shown to be produced by human memory B cells. Nat Commun

2 September: Modelling suggests that the recently approved Sanofi-Pasteur vaccine may increase the frequency of severe dengue symptoms where viral transmission is low. Science

30 August: Ebola virus is found to persist in semen for at least 12 months in 24 men participating in a screening programme in Liberia. Lancet

29 August: A screen of around 6000 drugs and drug candidates for activity against Zika virus infection identifies several potential leads, including the anti-helminthic niclosamide. Nat Med

25 August: The genome of Guaico Culex virus, a novel RNA virus of Culex mosquitoes, is found to have individually packaged segments, the first known animal virus with this structure. Cell Host Micr

25 August: An effective system is developed to grow human noroviruses in vitro using human enterocytes supplied with bile. Science

24 August: 3.9 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopic images of coxsackievirus B3 bound to an artificial lipid membrane reveal that the capsid deforms at the point of contact to form a pore. Sci Adv

23 August: A WHO survey finds HIV viral load monitoring capacity in most countries is inadequate to meet UNAIDS diagnosis and monitoring targets for 2020. PLOS Med

19 August: Epidemiologist Donald Henderson, who coordinated the successful WHO programme to eradicate smallpox, dies at the age of 87. BBC

15 August: Herpes and influenza A virus replication is shown to depend on the circadian clock in mice. PNAS

10 August: Two cases of wild-type poliovirus are reported in Borno, Nigeria, the first in that country since July 2014. Global Polio Eradication Initiative

9 August: A retrospective case study finds 7 cases of congenital joint contractures in Brazilian children with apparent congenital Zika virus syndrome. BMJ

4 August: Three different Zika virus vaccines – viral pre-membrane and envelope (prM-Env) expressed either from DNA or in an adenovirus vector, as well as inactivated virus – each protect rhesus monkeys against infection. Science

25 July: A mathematical model estimates that 93.4 million people including 1.65 million pregnant women will be infected with Zika virus during the epidemic's first wave. Nat Microbiol

11 July: The cryo-electron microscopic structure of rhinovirus C, a clinically important exacerbator of childhood asthma, reveals surface fingerlike projections that might help in designing a vaccine. PNAS

1 July: Human herpesvirus 6A DNA is found in 43% of endometrial biopsies in women with unexplained infertility but not in fertile control women. PLOS One

29 June: Adenovirus core protein VII is shown to bind to host histones and to cause the inflammatory mediator HMGB1 to be trapped in the nucleus, stopping it from stimulating immune responses. Nature

28 June: The US FDA approves the velpatasvir/sofosbuvir combination for chronic hepatitis C virus infection, the first drug to treat all six major viral genotypes. FDA

22 June: In a mouse model, memory dysfunction after West Nile virus infection is shown to be associated with synaptic pruning in the hippocampus region of the brain, mediated by the host's complement system. Nature

14 June: Cyanophage N-1, a phage of Nostoc cyanobacteria, is shown to have a functional CRISPR array – a bacterial antiviral defence system – similar to one common among cyanobacteria. mBio

10 June: The yellow fever outbreak in Angola continues, with 3,137 suspected cases including 345 deaths reported since the outbreak began in December. WHO

1 June: Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α is shown to be the cellular receptor for human cytomegalovirus entry into fibroblasts, binding to the viral gO glycoprotein. Nat Microbiol

22 April: The 3.8 Å resolution structure of Zika virus, determined by cryo-electron microscopy, differs from other flaviviruses only around the envelope glycoprotein's single glycosylation site, which might represent the viral receptor. Science

17 April: Switch to a bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine commences, after the eradication of poliovirus type 2 was certified in September 2015. Global Polio Eradication Initiative

16 March: Multiple new cases of Ebola virus are reported in Koropara, southern Guinea. WHO

10 March: The ongoing Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus outbreak continues in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with 46 new cases in February and March. WHO

8 March: Endogenous retrovirus Fc sequences, first identified in primates, are found in 11 different mammalian orders including rodents and carnivores. eLife

4 March: Endogenous retrovirus regulatory elements act as enhancers for interferon-induced immune genes in mammals. Science

4 March: Abnormal foetal ultrasound results are found in 12 of 42 pregnant women infected with Zika virus in Rio de Janeiro. NEJM

4 March: Zika virus is shown to productively infect human neural progenitor cells in vitro, causing cell death. Cell Stem Cell

1 March: The first dengue outbreak in Uruguay is reported, with 17 confirmed cases, mainly in Montevideo. WHO

29 February: A case-control study in 42 people with Guillain–Barré syndrome in Tahiti, French Polynesia in 2013–14 suggests that Zika virus might cause the syndrome. Lancet

27 February: The first chikungunya outbreak in Argentina is reported, with 30 confirmed non-imported cases, mainly in Tartagal. WHO

24 February: A meta-analysis estimates that 2.3 million people, mainly those who inject drugs, are infected with both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 82% of HIV⁺ injecting drug users are also infected with HCV. Lancet Infect Dis

24 February: In 82 Liberian Ebola survivors participating in the PREVAIL III study, frequent neurological problems are seen at least 6 months after the onset of symptoms. EurekAlert

23 February: Japanese encephalitis virus can be transmitted directly between pigs, without requiring a mosquito vector. Nat Commun

17 February: A novel gammaherpesvirus related to equine herpesvirus 2 is discovered in a cell line derived from the cave myotis bat. mSphere

16 February: An outbreak of Lassa fever occurs in Benin, with 71 suspected cases including 23 deaths. WHO

8 February: Cryo-electron microscopy of mouse coronavirus spike glycoprotein reveals an accessible conserved fusion peptide, which might form a target for vaccines and antivirals. Nature

8 February: A yellow fever outbreak is ongoing in Angola, with 164 suspected cases including 37 deaths reported since the outbreak began in December. WHO

5 February: A phylogeographic analysis shows the deformed wing virus originated in the European honey bee and has spread globally via human movement of infected bees. Science

4 February: A small engineered protein binding a conserved part of haemagglutinin protects mice against multiple influenza strains without requiring an immune response in the host. PLOS Pathog

1 February: WHO declares Zika virus an international public health emergency. BBC

28 January: A study of 1926 people with uncontrolled HIV-1 replication on tenofovir-containing regimens found tenofovir resistance is common in low-income regions. Lancet Infect Dis

23 January: An outbreak of Lassa fever occurs in Nigeria, with 159 suspected cases including 82 deaths since August 2015. WHO

21 January: An increase in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in El Salvador has been tentatively associated with Zika virus; 46 cases have been recorded since December. WHO

21 January: A twentyfold increase in annual cases of microcephaly in Brazil is possibly linked with Zika virus infection during pregnancy; 3,893 suspected cases have been recorded since October. NEJM, BBC

20 January: GAVI Alliance contributes $5 million towards the development of the rVSV∆G-ZEBOV-GP candidate Ebola vaccine. GAVI

14 January: WHO declares the West African Ebola epidemic (virus pictured) over after Liberia remains Ebola free for 42 days; 28,637 suspected cases and 11,315 deaths were recorded during the outbreak. WHO 1, 2

13 January: Immunotherapy with an antibody engineered to bind the glycoprotein of both Zaire ebolavirus (pictured) and Sudan virus is shown to protect mice against both viruses. Sci Rep

13 January: Mathematical modelling shows that HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in 25% of the most sexually active men who have sex with men, coupled with testing and treatment, could prevent 44% of new infections in the UK. Lancet

7 January: Two transfusions with convalescent plasma from Ebola virus disease survivors were well tolerated but did not significantly increase survival in 84 patients in Guinea. NEJM

7 January: Research in hybrid cells shows that, to jump from infecting birds to humans, avian influenza polymerase must acquire mutations to adapt to the human ANP32A protein, an essential cofactor for viral replication. Nature

6 January: Infectious salmon anaemia virus sequences are detected for the first time in farmed and wild salmon from British Columbia, Canada. Virol J

2 January: A twentyfold increase in annual cases of microcephaly in Brazil is possibly linked with Zika virus infection during pregnancy; 3,174 suspected cases have been recorded. WHO 1, 2

21 December: A virus-like particle in which the bacteriophage P22 capsid encapsulates bacterial [NiFe] hydrogenase forms a self-assembling biomaterial that catalyses hydrogen production. Nat Chem

1 December: A twentyfold increase in annual cases of microcephaly in Brazil is possibly linked with Zika virus infection during pregnancy. WHO

25 September: WHO declares Nigeria free from endemic wild poliovirus. WHO

20 September: The Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication declares wild poliovirus type 2 to have been eradicated globally. GCCPE

9 September: Brain amyloid beta deposits are found in four people who developed Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease after receiving human growth hormone from cadavers, suggesting Alzheimer's disease might be transmissible by iatrogenic routes. Nature

8 September: Mollivirus sibericum, a novel spherical virus 0.6 µm in diameter, is discovered in a 30,000-year-old Siberian permafrost sample and shown to still be able to infect its Acanthamoeba host. PNAS

24 March: A small study of a multivalent norovirus virus-like particle vaccine shows a broad antibody response is generated, which covers novel virus variants. PLOS Med

24 March: An Ebola vaccine based on the 2014 strain is shown to be safe and to generate an immune response in a phase I clinical trial in China. Lancet

23 March: A novel virus, ANMV-1, believed to infect anaerobic archaea in a deep-sea methane seep, is shown to have the first diversity-generating retroelement found in archaea or their viruses, which has the potential to generate rapid genetic diversity in the virus. Nat Comm

22 March: The lowest weekly total of new cases of Ebola virus disease in 2015 has been recorded in the ongoing West African outbreak; since the outbreak began, there have been nearly 25,000 suspected cases and 10,326 deaths. WHO

18 March: A test to distinguish viral from bacterial infections is developed, based on TRAIL and other host proteins induced after infection. PLOS ONE

15 March: In the ongoing West African outbreak, new cases of Ebola virus disease are restricted to the region surrounding Conakry and Freetown, with no new cases being reported in Liberia; since the outbreak began, there have been over 24,500 suspected cases and 10,194 deaths. WHO

10 March: In the ongoing outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), cases continue to be reported in Saudi Arabia; since the outbreak started in September 2012, there have been 1075 cases with at least 404 deaths. WHO

9 March: In the ongoing outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), cases continue to be reported in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East; since the outbreak started in September 2012, there have been over 1000 cases with at least 394 deaths. WHO 1, 2

9 March: Real-time imaging of SIV in macaques using immuno-PET reveals unexpectedly high levels of virus in the nasal cavity, lung and male genital tract in antiretroviral-treated animals. Nat Meth

8 March: In the ongoing West African outbreak, new cases of Ebola virus disease are restricted to the region surrounding Conakry and Freetown, with no new cases being reported in Liberia; since the outbreak began, there have been over 24,000 suspected cases and 9976 deaths.WHO

4 March: The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses formally ratify their 2014 species list, with one new family of double-stranded DNA bacteriophages, Sphaerolipoviridae, one new subfamily of Myoviridae, Eucampyvirinae, fifty new genera and 359 new species recognised. ICTV

3 March: Four RNA viruses found in farmed honeybees – acute bee paralysis, black queen cell, deformed wing and slow bee paralysis viruses – are widespread among wild bumblebee species in a survey across Britain. J Anim Ecol

2 March: A 3D image of Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus at 125 nm resolution is constructed from multiple high-energy X-ray diffraction patterns of single virions, rather than crystals, in the first application of this technique to a virus. Nature

1 March: No new cases of Ebola virus disease have been reported in Liberia in the ongoing West African outbreak, but transmission remains widespread in Sierra Leone; since the outbreak began, there have been almost 24,000 suspected cases and 9807 deaths. WHO

25 February: H7N9 avian influenza infection continues in China, with 59 cases reported since 21 January. WHO

25 February: In the ongoing outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), cases continue to be reported in Saudi Arabia; since the outbreak started in September 2012, there have been over 1000 cases with at least 383 deaths. WHO

25 February: WHO calls for increased measles vaccination coverage in the light of outbreaks across Europe. WHO

24 February: A clinical trial in England shows that pre-exposure prophylaxis with tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) reduces the risk of HIV infection by 86% in gay men engaging in high-risk sex. CROI

22 February: In the ongoing West African outbreak of Ebola virus disease (virus pictured), transmission remains widespread in Sierra Leone but is limited in Liberia; since the outbreak began, there have been almost 23,750 suspected cases and 9604 deaths. WHO

20 February: WHO approves the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test Kit, a protein-based diagnostic test for Ebola virus that can give results in 15 minutes and does not require electricity. WHO

19 February: A novel thogotovirus, Bourbon virus, is identified in a man who died of an apparently tickborne infection in Kansas, USA. Emerg Infect Dis

19 February: In the ongoing outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), an increase in weekly cases is reported in Saudi Arabia; since the outbreak started in September 2012, there have been over 1000 cases with at least 376 deaths. WHO

18 February: Varicella zoster virus antigens are found in 74% of giant cell arteritis biopsies but only 8% of normal ones, suggesting the virus might have a role in triggering disease. Neurology

18 February: In a preliminary study, gene therapy with eCD4-Ig – an engineered protein that mimics two receptors for HIV, CD4 and CCR5 – protects rhesus macaques against SHIV, a model for HIV. Nature

17 February: Four polio vaccine workers are found shot dead after being abducted in Pakistan. BBC

16 February: A novel strain of HIV-1, CRF19_cpx, is associated with rapid progression to AIDS among some patients in Cuba. EBioMedicine

15 February: In the ongoing West African outbreak of Ebola virus disease, 128 new cases were confirmed, with transmission particularly high in Freetown, Sierra Leone; since the outbreak began, there have been over 23,000 suspected cases and 9380 deaths. WHO

14 February: An international collaboration to create a synthetic vaccine for poliovirus is announced. BBC

11 February: The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak continues, with new cases reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; since the outbreak started in September 2012, there have been nearly 1000 cases with at least 359 deaths. WHO 1,2,3

10 February: A novel RNA virus, Dinocampus coccinellae paralysis virus, is implicated in the parasitic wasp Dinocampus coccinellae paralysing its host, the spotted lady beetle, to form a bodyguard for its pupa. Proc. R. Soc. B

10 February: An antisense molecule targeting Ebolavirus VP24 mRNA protected 6 of 8 Rhesus monkeys from death from Ebola virus disease, suggesting that VP24 might be a target for anti-Ebola drugs. mBio

8 February: Weekly reported cases increased in the ongoing West African outbreak of Ebola virus disease; since the outbreak began, there have been nearly 23,000 suspected cases and 9177 deaths. WHO

6 February: Measles outbreak reported in North America, associated with a Californian amusement park. CDC

4 February: H7N9 avian influenza infection continues in China, with 83 cases reported. WHO

2 February: A Phase 2/3 clinical trial of two Ebolavirus vaccine candidates, cAd3-EBOZ and VSV-ZEBOV, commences in Liberia. NIH

30 January: A meta-analysis of all randomised clinical trials of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in adults, including all published and unpublished data, shows that the antiviral reduces the duration of influenza symptoms by around one day in adults, and also reduces the risk of lower respiratory tract complications and the need for hospitalisation. Lancet

29 January: A total of 112 novel negative-sense RNA viruses of arthropods, including a putative new family of circular RNA viruses, are identified in a study of 70 arthropod species in China. e-Life

29 January: Enterovirus D68 might be responsible for a cluster of cases of acute flaccid paralysis in children in Colorado. Lancet

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