Papillomaviruses

Papillomaviruses are a family of small, non-enveloped DNA viruses that are known to cause a range of diseases in humans. They can cause warts, as well as some cancers, such as cervical and anal cancer. Papillomaviruses are spread through direct or indirect contact with an infected person, or through contaminated objects. As such, they are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in humans, and effective prevention of infection can be difficult. Vaccines are available that can reduce the risk of papillomavirus-associated diseases, and treatment and management options exist for existing infections or diseases.