Various viruses inhabit diverse environments, encompassing aqueous, terrestrial, and atmospheric domains. While viruses lack the ability to self-replicate in the absence of living cells, they endure in the environment and instigate infections in new hosts. The presence of viruses in the environment poses a significant risk to human health, and there has been a notable increase in research focused on viruses in the environmental field. Scholars have investigated the identification, eradication, and surveillance of viruses in the environment. To comprehend current research advancements, focal areas, and emerging patterns in virus research, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on publications from 1990 to 2022 using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, alongside analytical tools such as R package Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and Citespace. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 3,805 articles related to virus research in the environmental field published over 33 years. The primary focus of this analysis was on the top 10 countries/regions in terms of publication frequency, prolific authors, source journals, significant research institutions, and main research topics. These findings provide an objective evaluation of the scientific contributions and impacts of pertinent countries, institutions, and individuals in this field.