hantavirus

noun

han·​ta·​vi·​rus ˈhän-tə-ˌvī-rəs How to pronounce hantavirus (audio) ˈhən- How to pronounce hantavirus (audio) ˈhan- How to pronounce hantavirus (audio)
: any of a family (Hantaviridae and especially genus Orthohantavirus) of bunyaviruses transmitted especially by rodent feces and urine and including viruses causing serious pulmonary disease or hemorrhagic fevers marked by renal necrosis

Examples of hantavirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Betsy died due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is transmitted from animals to humans and is commonly found in rodents, the New Mexico Department of Health confirmed. Tracy Wright , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025 The report, released two days after the final report for her husband, confirmed her death from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but often fatal disease contracted via infected rodent droppings. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2025 Hackman, who died at age 95 of natural causes, tested negative for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Fox News and The Associated Press report. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025 Arakawa, who died due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, had fluid accumulation in her chest and mild hardening of the vessels that supplied blood to the heart and body, according to an autopsy obtained by The Associated Press. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hantavirus

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from hanta- (from Hantaan, river in South Korea near where rodents carrying the virus were collected 1974–78) + virus

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hantavirus was in 1984

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Cite this Entry

“Hantavirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hantavirus. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

hantavirus

noun
han·​ta·​vi·​rus ˈhan-tə-ˌvī-rəs How to pronounce hantavirus (audio) ˈhən- How to pronounce hantavirus (audio) ˈhän- How to pronounce hantavirus (audio)
: any of a family (Hantaviridae and especially genus Orthohantavirus) of bunyaviruses that infect specific rodents as their natural hosts and that include some forms causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans following exposure to the virus in airborne particles of rodent urine, feces, or saliva or directly by the bite of a rodent

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