Wikipedia:Main Page history/2022 September 18

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Reconstruction of a rotavirus
Reconstruction of a rotavirus

Rotavirus is a genus of double-stranded RNA virus and the leading cause of severe diarrhoea among infants and young children, nearly all of whom have an infection by age five. Rotavirus A, the most common species, causes more than 90 per cent of human infections. Rotavirus is transmitted by the faecal–oral route. It infects cells that line the small intestine and produces an enterotoxin, which induces gastroenteritis, leading to severe diarrhoea and sometimes death through dehydration. Campaigns to combat rotaviruses focus on oral rehydration therapy for infected children and vaccination. Vaccines introduced in the 2000s have reduced the severity of infections in children and lowered hospitalisation rates. Although rotavirus was discovered in 1973 by Ruth Bishop and her colleagues, its importance has historically been underestimated within the public health community, particularly in developing countries. Rotavirus also infects animals and is a pathogen of livestock. (Full article...)

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The Vecihi K-VI
The Vecihi K-VI

In the news

Jason Sudeikis in 2019
Jason Sudeikis

On this day

September 18: Banned Books Week begins (2022); Battle of Britain Day in Canada (2022)

Flag of Scotland
Flag of Scotland
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Trimeresurus popeiorum

Trimeresurus popeiorum is a species of venomous pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is native to northern and northeastern parts of India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Indonesia. Common names include Pope's pit viper, Pope's tree viper, and Pope's bamboo pitviper. Trimeresurus popeiorum preys upon frogs, lizards, birds, and rodents (especially rats and squirrels).

Photograph credit: Rushenb

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