filovirus

noun

fi·​lo·​vi·​rus ˈfī-lō-ˌvī-rəs How to pronounce filovirus (audio)
: any of a family (Filoviridae) of single-stranded chiefly filamentous RNA viruses that infect vertebrates and include the Marburg virus and the Ebola viruses

Examples of filovirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Marburg virus is a zoonotic virus that, along with the six species of Ebola virus, comprises the filovirus family, the CDC said. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2023 Without committed resources and preapproved trial protocols, filovirus outbreaks will keep happening with little progress on interventions that could stop them, Dr. Amuasi said. Stephanie Nolen, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2023 Madagascar fruit bats, which roost in the Manombo reserve, can carry coronaviruses, filoviruses (the family of viruses that includes Ebola) and henipaviruses (the family that includes the brain-inflaming Nipah and Hendra viruses). Caroline Chen, ProPublica, 7 Mar. 2023 Ebola is a filovirus. Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 In a filovirus outbreak, laboratory confirmation of all cases is uncommon. Helen Branswell, STAT, 22 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'filovirus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin filum thread + New Latin -o- + virus

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of filovirus was in 1982

Dictionary Entries Near filovirus

Cite this Entry

“Filovirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/filovirus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

filovirus

noun
fi·​lo·​vi·​rus ˈfī-lō-ˌvī-rəs How to pronounce filovirus (audio)
: any of a family Filoviridae of single-stranded RNA viruses

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