West Nile virus

American

noun

Pathology.

an illness caused by a chiefly mosquito-borne virus of the genus Flavivirus, characterized in a small percentage of infected persons by fever, headache, muscle weakness, and sometimes encephalitis or meningitis.
the virus that causes this illness.

West Nile virus Scientific

/ wĕstnīl /

An infectious disease caused by a virus of the genus Flavivirus, occurring in Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, and parts of North America. The infection is transmitted by a mosquito and can cause mild illness as well as severe, sometimes fatal encephalitis and meningitis.

Etymology

Origin of West Nile virus

First recorded in 1935–40; named after the West Nile region of Uganda

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Culex are more interested in biting birds rather than humans and are California’s primary spreader of West Nile virus.

From Los Angeles Times

West Nile virus affects around 2,000 Americans a year, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

County have had severe disease and approximately 10% of patients with severe West Nile virus die from complications.

From Los Angeles Times

A virologist has said mosquito-borne diseases are "likely" to increase in range after West Nile virus was detected in the UK for the first time.

From BBC

West Nile virus is endemic in several regions across the world, including parts of South America and Europe, and has expanded in recent years.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023