flavivirus
noun
fla·vi·vi·rus
ˈflā-vi-ˌvī-rəs 
: any of a family (Flaviviridae and especially genus Flavivirus) of single-stranded RNA viruses transmitted especially by ticks and mosquitoes and including the causative agents of dengue, hepatitis C, hog cholera, Saint Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus, and yellow fever
Examples of flavivirus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The most common in the U.S. is West Nile Virus, a potentially fatal neurologic disease caused by a flavivirus carried by mosquitoes.
—
Byerin Prater, Fortune Well, 1 July 2023
The Zika virus is a flavivirus closely related to notorious pathogens including dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2016
Zika virus is a flavivirus, part of the same family as yellow fever, West Nile, chikungunya and dengue fever.
—Cnn Editorial Research, CNN, 27 May 2021
Yellow fever, a flavivirus, has parallels to SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID.
—Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2020
Zika, a flavivirus that falls under the same category as West Nile, causes only mild symptoms — at worst — in most people.
—Rose Minutaglio, PEOPLE.com, 3 July 2019
However, the study said technical obstacles will delay making vaccines against Zika and other related viruses, called flaviviruses.
—Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, 4 Oct. 2017
Upon entering a human body, had the long-unheralded flavivirus always had the power to attack any developing brain tissue inside its human host and wreak a special kind of havoc?
—Melissa Healy, latimes.com, 28 Sep. 2017
Also, the disease belongs to a family of viruses known as flaviviruses, which scientists have been battling for more than a century.
—Katie Thomas, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2016
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Byerin Prater, Fortune Well, 1 July 2023
The Zika virus is a flavivirus closely related to notorious pathogens including dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 1 Feb. 2016
Zika virus is a flavivirus, part of the same family as yellow fever, West Nile, chikungunya and dengue fever.
—Cnn Editorial Research, CNN, 27 May 2021
Yellow fever, a flavivirus, has parallels to SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID.
—Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2020
Zika, a flavivirus that falls under the same category as West Nile, causes only mild symptoms — at worst — in most people.
—Rose Minutaglio, PEOPLE.com, 3 July 2019
However, the study said technical obstacles will delay making vaccines against Zika and other related viruses, called flaviviruses.
—Bradley J. Fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, 4 Oct. 2017
Upon entering a human body, had the long-unheralded flavivirus always had the power to attack any developing brain tissue inside its human host and wreak a special kind of havoc?
—Melissa Healy, latimes.com, 28 Sep. 2017
Also, the disease belongs to a family of viruses known as flaviviruses, which scientists have been battling for more than a century.
—Katie Thomas, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Flavivirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flavivirus. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
flavivirus
noun
fla·vi·vi·rus
ˈflā-vi-ˌvī-rəs
1
capitalized
: a genus of the family Flaviviridae of single-stranded RNA viruses that are transmitted by arthropod vectors and especially by ticks and mosquitoes and that include the causative agents of dengue, Japanese B encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, West Nile fever, and yellow fever
2
: any virus of the genus Flavivirus or the family Flaviviridae
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