rotavirus

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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

Recent Examples of rotavirus from the Web

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
The new vaccine against rotavirus, the most common cause of death from diarrhea in children under age 5, is made by an Indian company and was tested in Niger by Doctors Without Borders.

— donald g. mcneil jr., New York Times, "New Vaccine Could Slow Disease That Kills 600 Children a Day," 22 Mar. 2017
Forty deaths a year from rotavirus, while tragic, does not constitute a serious health risk.

— wired, WIRED, "Reader Rants and Raves," 21 Dec. 2009

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.

Origin and Etymology of rotavirus

New Latin, from Latin rota wheel + New Latin virus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1974

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

rotavirus

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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

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