新型コロナウイルスとインフルエンザウイルスの基礎

In Japan, novel coronavirus infection（COVID-19） was moved to category 5 infection in May 2023. Although the fatality rate has decreased compared to the early phase of the pandemic, the novel coronavirus（SARS-CoV-2） is expected to continue to exist among humans with repeated mutations in the future due to its strong infectious ability.
In addition to COVID-19, other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as H1N1 novel influenza, H5N1 avian influenza, Middle East respiratory syndrome, Ebola hemorrhagic fever（Ebola virus disease）, Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome（SFTS） and Zika fever have recently become public concerns. As a common feature, these infectious diseases are caused by RNA viruses. In this article, focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses, which are frequently seen in clinical sites in Japan, basic knowledge on the replication process of both viruses and the mechanism of action of antivirals will be reviewed.