equine encephalitis

noun

Definition of EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

: any of three forms of encephalitis that attack chiefly equines and humans in various parts of North and South America and are caused by three togaviruses (species Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, andWestern equine encephalitis virus of the genus Alphavirus)

First Known Use of EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

1946

Medical Dictionary

equine encephalitis

noun

Medical Definition of EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

: any of three virus diseases chiefly of equines and humans in various parts of North and South America that are transmitted especially by mosquitoes, are characterized in humans by flulike symptoms which often progress to encephalitis and sometimes to coma and death, and are caused by three togaviruses of the genus Alphavirus (species Eastern equine encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus): a : one that occurs in the eastern United States and Canada—called also eastern equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalomyelitis b : one that occurs in the western United States and Canada—called also western equine encephalitis, western equine encephalomyelitis c : one that occurs from northern South America to Mexico—called also Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis