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
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Recent Examples of rotavirus from the Web
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Forty deaths a year from rotavirus, while tragic, does not constitute a serious health risk.
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
First Known Use: 1974
Medical Dictionary
rotavirus
playMedical 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 ◆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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