First Known Use: 1940
Dictionary
West Nile virus
noun
Definition of WEST NILE VIRUS
1
: a flavivirus (species West Nile virus of the genus Flavivirus) that causes an illness marked by fever, headache, muscle ache, skin rash, and sometimes encephalitis or meningitis and that is spread especially from birds to humans by mosquitoes
2
: the illness caused by West Nile virus
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of WEST NILE VIRUS
from West Nile province of Uganda, where the virus was isolated in 1937
Rhymes with WEST NILE VIRUS
Medical Dictionary
West Nile virus
noun
Medical Definition of WEST NILE VIRUS
: a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus (species West Nile virus) that causes an illness marked by fever, headache, muscle ache, skin rash, and sometimes encephalitis or meningitis, that is spread chiefly by mosquitoes, and that is closely related to the viruses causing Japanese B encephalitis and Saint Louis encephalitis; also : west nile fever
Learn More About WEST NILE VIRUS
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: west–northwestPrevious Word in the Dictionary: West Nile feverAll Words Near: West Nile virus
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up West Nile virus? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).