How to Use zoster in a Sentence

zoster

noun
  • It's caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same one behind chicken pox.
    Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, 26 Oct. 2017
  • Chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, the varicella zoster virus.
    NBC News, 10 June 2019
  • Chickenpox and shingles are both caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
    Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 17 July 2021
  • Chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, varicella zoster.
    Julie Washington, cleveland, 15 Dec. 2019
  • The reason for the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus is unknown.
    Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 13 June 2022
  • The complication, ophthalmic herpes zoster, can cause pain, swelling, scarring and even vision loss.
    Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2017
  • Justin was recently diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can happen when the varicella-zoster virus infects a nerve in the head.
    Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 4 July 2022
  • The varicella-zoster virus remains in the body long after chicken pox has passed and can later reactivate as shingles.
    Ebony Williams, ajc, 11 June 2022
  • One is an article from the Department of Health in Queensland, Australia, about shingles, an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
    Molly Stellino, USA TODAY, 22 Sep. 2022
  • Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that occurs when the varicella-zoster virus infects a nerve in the head near the inner ear.
    Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 11 June 2022
  • Anyone who has had chickenpox — which these days means nearly everyone over 40 — harbors the varicella-zoster virus that causes the disease.
    Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2017
  • Many vaccines, like flu vaccines, are refrigerated between two and eight degrees C. Only a couple have to be frozen to –20 C, such as [those for] varicella and zoster.
    Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2020
  • First, some basics: Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 17 July 2017
  • Other tiny invaders stick around—among them, the varicella-zoster virus which initially causes chickenpox but then becomes latent in neurons for the rest of a patient’s life.
    Lois Parshley, National Geographic, 3 June 2020
  • Last month, Justin was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that occurs when a varicella-zoster virus infects a facial nerve.
    Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 7 July 2022
  • The Cleveland Clinic explains that Ramsay Hunt is a complication of either shingles or chickenpox, which are caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
    Bykristine Gill, Fortune, 23 Nov. 2022
  • GlaxoSmithKline’s shingles vaccine contains a lone protein isolated from the shell of the varicella zoster virus.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 25 Oct. 2017
  • Earlier this month, Justin told fans he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that occurs when a varicella-zoster virus infects a facial nerve.
    Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 22 June 2022
  • Coaches should also worry about varicella zoster virus (chicken pox), measles and mumps — all which can be prevented by vaccinations.
    Raising Austin, ajc, 25 Sep. 2017
  • For instance, the varicella-zoster virus can cause chickenpox in children, go dormant and then reactivate as herpes zoster, or shingles, which causes painful rashes in adults.
    Ryan Prior, CNN, 5 Oct. 2020
  • Days prior to his announcement, on June 10, the pop singer revealed via an Instagram video that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a condition that occurs when a varicella-zoster virus infects a nerve in the head.
    Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 1 Aug. 2022
  • With some pathogens, such as the varicella-zoster virus (which causes chicken pox), infection confers near-universal, long-lasting resistance.
    Stacey McKenna, Scientific American, 10 Apr. 2020
  • These findings suggest that exosomes may be a potential mechanism for how the varicella zoster virus increases stroke risk for shingles patients.
    Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 20 Dec. 2022
  • Astronauts have had reactivations of Epstein-Barr and varicella-zoster viral infections—a function of a change in immune status.
    Adam Rogers, Wired, 5 Apr. 2021
  • The syndrome itself is not contagious, but a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus could cause chickenpox in people who have not previously been vaccinated for it or had the condition.
    Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY, 10 June 2022
  • Chickenpox is transmitted through contact with an infected person’s respiratory droplets or their lesions, which contain the varicella zoster virus.
    New York Times, 25 May 2018
  • Zostavax, a live-attenuated vaccine, introduces a weaker (attenuated) version of the varicella zoster virus in order to stimulate the immune system.
    Susan Scutti, CNN, 25 Oct. 2017
  • Many pharmacists have gotten certified to administer immunizations such as for flu, pneumonia, and herpes zoster (shingles).
    Philly.com, 23 Aug. 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zoster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: