Virus Appreciation Day may seem like an odd holiday, but after giving it some thought, it’s not that peculiar. Although viruses are among the most harmful and deadly entities affecting human and animal health, their simplicity can be truly appreciated.

These bits of genetic material aren’t technically “alive,” yet they can manipulate cells so that the cells are compelled to produce more viruses. It is this simple design that enables them to spread so rapidly throughout the body. And for this reason, we should take a moment to show viruses the respect they deserve.

The History of Virus Appreciation Day

Unfortunately, we have been unable to uncover the origins of this holiday. We suspect that this holiday was probably created by a virologist somewhere, but at this time, we can’t substantiate that claim with concrete evidence.

Important Facts About Viruses

Below are some facts about viruses that we learned while researching Virus Appreciation Day. We think these facts will inform everyone reading about viruses and provide a starting point for further research on their own.

• Viruses cannot convert food into energy and cannot replicate without the use of a human or animal cell.
• Although viruses are not technically “alive,” they can evolve through natural selection.
• Viruses have no cell nucleus and are covered with a protective coating known as a capsid.
• Viruses are known to infect animals, plants, protozoa, fungi, and even bacteria.
• It has been estimated that 10% of human DNA originally came from viruses.
• There are an estimated 10 quintillion viruses on Earth.
• Most viral pathogens that infect humans begin in other animals.
• If a virus makes an interspecies jump, it can be devastating to the new population infected by it.
• Bats have extremely strong immune systems, which puts evolutionary pressure on viruses. This results in more dangerous viruses emerging from bat populations.

Observing Virus Appreciation Day

On Virus Appreciation Day, everyone should take the time to learn more about viruses and their effects on the human body. These small pieces of genetic code might be simple in their operation, but they can also be extremely dangerous to human health.

We also recommend that everyone observing this day use the hashtag #VirusAppreciationDay to spread the word about this holiday.