hantavirus

[ hahn-tuh-vahy-ruh s, han‐ ]
/ ˈhɑn təˌvaɪ rəs, ˈhæn‐ /

noun, plural han·ta·vi·rus·es.

any of several viruses of the family Bunyaviridae, spread chiefly by wild rodents, that cause acute respiratory illness, kidney failure, and other syndromes.

Origin of hantavirus

First recorded in 1975–80; after the Hantaan River in Korea, near which the virus first afflicted Westerners in the 1950s

Words nearby hantavirus

hansen's disease, hansetown, hansom, hanson, hant, hantavirus, hants, hanukiah, hanukkah, hanuman, hanyang

British Dictionary definitions for hantavirus

hantavirus
/ (ˈhæntəˌvaɪrəs) /

noun

any one of a group of viruses that are transmitted to humans by rodents and cause disease of varying severity, ranging from a mild form of influenza to respiratory or kidney failure

Word Origin for hantavirus

C20: from Hanta ( an), river in North and South Korea where the disease was first reported + virus

Medical definitions for hantavirus

hantavirus
[ hăn′tə-vī′rəs ]

n.

A type of virus carried by rodents causing severe respiratory infections in humans and, in some cases, hemorrhaging, kidney disease, and death.

Scientific definitions for hantavirus

hantavirus
[ hăn′tə-vī′rəs ]

Any of a group of viruses of the genus Hantavirus, carried by rodents, that cause severe respiratory infections in humans and, in some cases, hemorrhaging, kidney disease, and death.