rotavirus

noun

ro·​ta·​vi·​rus ˈrō-tə-ˌvī-rəs 

: 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

Bright spots include coverage for human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis, pneumococcal, polio and rotavirus diseases. —Adriel Bettelheim, Axios, 16 July 2024

The deaths of these children occurred because of a range of reasons: measles, malaria, hepatitis B, yellow fever and rotavirus—a diarrhea and vomiting sickness which many children in the western world are vaccinated against. —Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024

Each year, the CDC says rotavirus leads to more than 200,000 emergency room visits and up to 70,000 hospitalizations in children under 5. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024

The rotavirus also used to follow a biennial pattern where cases would peak every other year, typically on even number years like 2024. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin rota wheel + New Latin virus

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

rotavirus

noun

ro·​ta·​vi·​rus ˈrōt-ə-ˌvī-rəs 

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

rotaviral

-rəl 

adjective