variants
or Zika
1
: a flavivirus (species Zika virus of the genus Flavivirus) typically transmitted by aedes mosquitoes (especially Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus) that causes a usually mild illness marked chiefly by fever, joint pain, rash, and conjunctivitis and that has been associated with an increased incidence of microcephaly in infants born to pregnant women infected with the virus
2
or less commonly Zika fever
: the illness caused by Zika virus
Examples of Zika virus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2017, Moderna began developing a potential Zika virus vaccine, while in 2018 BioNTech entered into a partnership with Pfizer to develop mRNA vaccines for influenza, although the large scale funding which drives vaccine projects was still nowhere to be seen.
—
David Cox, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2020
This year, the county has hired extra people for this work, as part of a pre-emptive strike in the fight against an advancing Zika virus.
—Karen Garloch, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
The cause of the Syndrome is unknown, but most patients report symptoms of some kind of infection (COVID-19, Zika virus, a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection) in the weeks proceeding a diagnosis.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2023
Blinken, Becerra, and Nkengasong addressed various global health challenges in the 21st century that have prompted the growing interest in global health security concerns besides COVID-19, such as Ebola, Zika virus, and HIV/AIDS.
—Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2023
Scientists are too — especially when mosquitoes carrying diseases like Zika virus and dengue fever spread northward as the climate warms.
—Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2021
Organoids have already enhanced our understanding of conditions like autism, schizophrenia, even Zika virus, and hold the potential to illuminate many others.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
For example, the Food and Drug Administration says its emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 products will be able to continue after the public health emergency officially ends, similar to how countermeasures to Zika virus or anthrax remain available.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023
One of the most concerning mutations appeared in about 78% in collected specimens of Aedes aegypti -- one of the most infamous species of mosquito and a major vector of dengue, yellow fever and Zika virus, according to the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 Dec. 2022
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David Cox, WIRED, 2 Dec. 2020
This year, the county has hired extra people for this work, as part of a pre-emptive strike in the fight against an advancing Zika virus.
—Karen Garloch, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
The cause of the Syndrome is unknown, but most patients report symptoms of some kind of infection (COVID-19, Zika virus, a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection) in the weeks proceeding a diagnosis.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2023
Blinken, Becerra, and Nkengasong addressed various global health challenges in the 21st century that have prompted the growing interest in global health security concerns besides COVID-19, such as Ebola, Zika virus, and HIV/AIDS.
—Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2023
Scientists are too — especially when mosquitoes carrying diseases like Zika virus and dengue fever spread northward as the climate warms.
—Anna Funk, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2021
Organoids have already enhanced our understanding of conditions like autism, schizophrenia, even Zika virus, and hold the potential to illuminate many others.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023
For example, the Food and Drug Administration says its emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 products will be able to continue after the public health emergency officially ends, similar to how countermeasures to Zika virus or anthrax remain available.
—Alexander Tin, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2023
One of the most concerning mutations appeared in about 78% in collected specimens of Aedes aegypti -- one of the most infamous species of mosquito and a major vector of dengue, yellow fever and Zika virus, according to the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 Dec. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near Zika virus
Cite this Entry
“Zika virus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Zika%20virus. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Zika virus
noun
Zi·ka virus
ˈzē-kə- 
variants
or Zika
1
: a flavivirus (species Zika virus of the genus Flavivirus) typically transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes (especially A. aegypti and A. albopictus) and that causes a usually mild illness marked chiefly by fever, joint pain, rash, and conjunctivitis and that has been associated with an increased incidence of microcephaly in infants born to pregnant women infected with the virus
The Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, produces an itchy rash, pinkeye, joint pain and fever.—Lawrence K. Altman, The New York Times
Lawrence K. Altman, The New York TimesOf greater concern is the explosive Brazilian epidemic of microcephaly, manifested by an apparent 20-fold increase in incidence from 2014 to 2015, which some public health officials believe is caused by Zika virus infections in pregnant women.—Anthony S. Fauci and David M. Morens, The New England Journal of Medicine
Anthony S. Fauci and David M. Morens, The New England Journal of MedicineMeanwhile, a virus linked to the mosquitoes known as Zika has spread throughout Brazil, causing thousands of cases of brain damage in babies born with abnormally small heads.—Joshua Emerson Smith, The Los Angeles Times
Joshua Emerson Smith, The Los Angeles Times2
also Zika fever
: the illness caused by Zika virus
Health authorities across South America and the Caribbean are on alert over the spread of Zika virus, a mosquito-borne disease that may be linked to congenital brain deformity.—Donna Bowater, The Daily Telegraph (London)
Donna Bowater, The Daily Telegraph (London)An often mild or inapparent disease caused by a flavivirus (an arbovirus genus), Zika fever comes with the scenery in many parts of Africa and Asia.—Wayne Biddle, A Field Guide to Germs
Wayne Biddle, A Field Guide to GermsLove words? Need even more definitions?
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