hantavirus
noun
han·ta·vi·rus
ˈhän-tə-ˌvī-rəs 
ˈhən-
ˈhan-
ˈhən-
ˈhan-
: any of a family (Hantaviridae and especially genus Orthohantavirus) of bunyaviruses transmitted especially by rodent feces and urine and including viruses causing serious pulmonary disease or hemorrhagic fevers marked by renal necrosis
Examples of hantavirus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Betsy died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, New Mexico officials told reporters.
—
Janelle Ash, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025
Authorities confirmed March 7 that Betsy had died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is caused by hantavirus, while Hackman — likely alone in the home with his dead wife for days — died from a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer's disease.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
In a press conference on March 7, Dr. Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, said Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on or around February 11.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Arakawa, 65, died on about Feb. 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, officials said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hantavirus
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Janelle Ash, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025
Authorities confirmed March 7 that Betsy had died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is caused by hantavirus, while Hackman — likely alone in the home with his dead wife for days — died from a combination of severe heart disease, high blood pressure and advanced Alzheimer's disease.
—Jack Smart, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
In a press conference on March 7, Dr. Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, said Arakawa died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome on or around February 11.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025
Arakawa, 65, died on about Feb. 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease transmitted through rodent urine, droppings or saliva, officials said.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hantavirus
Cite this Entry
“Hantavirus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hantavirus. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hantavirus
noun
han·ta·vi·rus
ˈhan-tə-ˌvī-rəs
ˈhən-
ˈhän-
ˈhən-
ˈhän-
: any of a family (Hantaviridae and especially genus Orthohantavirus) of bunyaviruses that infect specific rodents as their natural hosts and that include some forms causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in humans following exposure to the virus in airborne particles of rodent urine, feces, or saliva or directly by the bite of a rodent
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