rotavirus

noun

ro·​ta·​vi·​rus ˈrō-tə-ˌvī-rəs 

: any of a genus (Rotavirus) of reoviruses that have a three-layered protein capsid with no outer lipid envelope when mature and that include one (species Rotavirus A) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children

Examples of rotavirus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Very little information is publicly available on trial costs for vaccines, but a paper examining vaccines for rotavirus — which causes diarrhea in children and kills about 150,000 kids a year — reported a rough estimate of $2,000 to $3,000 per subject for phase 3 trials alone. —Dylan Matthews, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Vomiting is often the first symptom for children who contract rotavirus. —Sarah Bradley, Health, 23 Oct. 2024

In addition to diarrhea and chills, the symptoms of rotavirus include:4 Fatigue Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite Strong thirst The symptoms usually come on quickly and resolve within a week or so. —Kelly Burch, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024

The pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines have been particularly significant—pneumonia and diarrhea are among the top global killers of children under five. —Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin rota wheel + New Latin virus

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

rotavirus

noun

ro·​ta·​vi·​rus ˈrōt-ə-ˌvī-rəs 

1

capitalized : a genus of reoviruses that are causative agents of gastroenteritis and that include one (species Rotavirus A) causing epidemics of severe and sometimes fatal diarrhea in infants and young children

Note: Viruses of the genus Rotavirus have a virion with a three-layered protein capsid lacking an outer lipid envelope when mature and a core of 11 discrete segments of double-stranded RNA.

2

: any virus of the genus Rotavirus

rotaviral

-rəl 

adjective