slow virus

noun Pathology.

a virus that remains dormant in the body for a long time before producing symptoms, as in several neurological diseases, including kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Origin of slow virus

First recorded in 1950–55

Words nearby slow virus

slow neutron, slow on the uptake, slow spot, slow time, slow up, slow virus, slow virus disease, slow wave, slow-footed, slow-mo, slow-motion

British Dictionary definitions for slow virus

slow virus

noun

any of a class of virus-like disease-causing agents known as prions that are present in the body for a long time before becoming active or infectious and are very resistant to radiation and similar factors: believed to be the cause of BSE and scrapie

Medical definitions for slow virus

slow virus

n.

Any of a group of viruses that cause various diseases with a long latent period and a slow, progressive course, as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.