Hantaviruses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of RNA viruses primarily transmitted by rodents, which can cause severe respiratory illnesses in humans
2. A family of viruses known to lead to diseases such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
3. Viruses that are typically zoonotic, spreading from animal hosts to humans, and often resulting in serious health complications

Etymology: Hantaviruses take their name from a river. The Hantaan River flows through the Korean peninsula, and the first virus of this group was isolated from rodents trapped in that area. Researchers then used the river's name for the whole family of related viruses. The "-virus" ending comes from Latin "virus," which meant poison or slimy liquid. English adopted it for infectious agents long before anyone knew what viruses were. The plural simply adds "-es" to the singular.