rotavirus

noun

ro·ta·vi·rus | \ˈrō-tə-ˌvī-rəs

Definition of rotavirus

: any of a genus (Rotavirus) of reoviruses that have a three-layered protein capsid with no outer lipid envelope when mature and that include one (species Rotavirus A) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children

Examples of rotavirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Globally, cervical cancer and rotavirus infections kill hundreds of thousands of women and children every year. — Denise Grady, New York Times, "Dr. Adel Mahmoud, Who Was Credited With HPV and Rotavirus Vaccines, Dies at 76," 19 June 2018 The problem with a rotavirus vaccine was that another company had already developed one but then had to take it off the market because it was found to increase the risk of bowel obstruction in infants. — Denise Grady, New York Times, "Dr. Adel Mahmoud, Who Was Credited With HPV and Rotavirus Vaccines, Dies at 76," 19 June 2018 Babies vaccinated against rotavirus, the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide, may have a small risk of a dangerous intestinal blockage, researchers reported Tuesday. — NBC News, "Studies Find Small Risk From Rotavirus Vaccine," 20 Feb. 2018 Compare that to the case of RotaShield, the first vaccine licensed to protect against rotavirus infection. — Helen Branswell, STAT, "The vaccine dilemma: How experts weigh benefits for many against risks for a few," 23 Apr. 2018 Two rotavirus vaccines are licensed in the U.S., RotaTeq since 2006 and Rotarix since 2008. — NBC News, "Studies Find Small Risk From Rotavirus Vaccine," 20 Feb. 2018 Pathogens can lurk in fecal matter, like the highly contagious norovirus and rotavirus, which can both cause food poisoning and the stomach flu, along with cold and flu viruses, Reynolds says. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Why You Seriously Need to Stop Taking Your Phone Into the Bathroom," 15 Feb. 2018 Offit developed a vaccine for rotavirus that has saved hundreds of thousands of lives since its approval in 2006. — Tom Avril, Philly.com, "Uber driver protesting 'Vaxxed' film meets Philly vaccine pioneer," 8 Sep. 2017 The Centers for Disease Control estimates that almost every child will have a bout of rotavirus before their fifth birthdays. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Hidden dangers of rodents in the house," 18 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rotavirus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near rotavirus

rotatory

rotatory dispersion

rotatory reflection axis

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Last Updated

20 Oct 2018

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The first known use of rotavirus was in 1974

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More Definitions for rotavirus

rotavirus

noun

ro·ta·vi·rus | \ˈrōt-ə-ˌvī-rəs

Medical Definition of rotavirus

1 capitalized : a genus of reoviruses that are causative agents of gastroenteritis and that include one (species Rotavirus A) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children

Note: Viruses of the genus Rotavirus have a virion with a three-layered protein capsid lacking an outer lipid envelope when mature and a core of 11 discrete segments of double-stranded RNA.

2 : any virus of the genus Rotavirus