hepatitis E

noun

: an acute hepatitis that is caused by a highly variable single-stranded RNA virus (species Hepatitis E virus of the genus Hepevirus), is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain, is usually contracted from sewage-contaminated water, and is rare in the United States but is common in some tropical developing countries

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis E is typically a mild illness that does not progress to a long-term or chronic infection.

Examples of hepatitis E in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Blood and urine tests ruled out hundreds of viruses, as well as hepatitis E, measles, heavy-metal poisoning, tainted bush meat, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Jennifer Abbasi, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2013 Of course, there are various hepatitis viruses that can cause hepatitis such as the hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E viruses. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 The scientists even opened up the data to other researchers who continue to find boars carry a host of diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis E and influenza A. David Meyer, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2021 Urban boars, the researchers found, carry all manner of diseases—tuberculosis, hepatitis E and influenza A—that can make the jump to humans. Bernhard Warner, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2021 Larson herself had contracted a host of illnesses—dengue fever, hepatitis E, amoebiasis, giardiasis, eosinophilic meningitis, and cerebral malaria—and wanted to move closer to her father. Danielle Ofri, The New Yorker, 12 June 2021 Last Friday, September 28, researchers at the University of Hong Kong revealed that a 56-year-old-man had contracted a strain of hepatitis E previously thought to only infect rats. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 2 Oct. 2018 The two other types of hepatitis, hepatitis D, also known as delta hepatitis, and hepatitis E, are not common in the United States. Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, 15 June 2018 The hospital can handle outbreaks of cholera and hepatitis E, which are common during the rainy season. Euan McKirdy, CNN, 20 Apr. 2018

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

Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hepatitis E was in 1990

Dictionary Entries Near hepatitis E

Cite this Entry

“Hepatitis E.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hepatitis%20E. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

hepatitis E

noun
: an acute hepatitis that is caused by a highly variable single-stranded RNA virus (species Hepatitis E virus of the genus Hepevirus), is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain, is usually contracted from sewage-contaminated water, and is rare in the United States but is common in some tropical developing countries

Note: The acute or short-term stage of hepatitis E is typically a mild illness that does not progress to a long-term or chronic infection.

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