morbillivirus

noun

mor·​bil·​li·​vi·​rus mȯr-ˈbi-lə-ˌvī-rəs 

: any of a genus (Morbillivirus) of paramyxoviruses that include the causative agents of canine distemper, measles, and rinderpest

Examples of morbillivirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2016, scientists began to vaccinate Hawaiian monk seals against a deadly strain of morbillivirus. — Christina Larson, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2023

In 1735, a novel disease that looked a lot like morbillivirus in humans broke out in dogs in Ecuador and Peru. — New York Times, 19 Jan. 2022

Plus, there’s currently no vaccine to inoculate monk seals from toxoplasmosis the way that HMSRP has been doing as a preventative against a morbillivirus outbreak. — Kim Steutermann Rogers, Smithsonian, 9 July 2018

The School of Oceanography at the State University of Rio de Janeiro confirmed that cetacean morbillivirus, which can infect dolphins, porpoises, and whales, killed the marine mammals. — Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 12 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from morbillus spot on the skin, pustule (from Medieval Latin, diminutive of Latin morbus) + virus

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for morbillivirus

• adenovirus
• baculovirus
• coronavirus
• enterovirus
• poliovirus
• antivirus
• herpesvirus
• parvovirus
• reovirus
• retrovirus
• rhinovirus
• rotavirus

Medical Definition

morbillivirus

noun

mor·​bil·​li·​vi·​rus -ˌvī-rəs 

1

Morbillivirus : a genus of single-stranded RNA viruses of the family Paramyxoviridae that includes the causative agents of measles, canine distemper, and rinderpest

2

: any of the genus Morbillivirus of paramyxoviruses