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poliovirus

American  
[poh-lee-oh-vahy-ruhs, poh-lee-oh-vahy-] / ˈpoʊ li oʊˌvaɪ rəs, ˌpoʊ li oʊˈvaɪ- /

noun

PLURAL

polioviruses
  1. any of three picornaviruses of the genus Enterovirus, having a spherical capsid, infectious to humans and the cause of poliomyelitis.


Etymology

Origin of poliovirus

First recorded in 1950–55; polio + virus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The disease is caused by the poliovirus, which spreads through contact with an infected person's faeces or droplets when they cough and sneeze.

From BBC

“Every paralytic polio case means there are hundreds of children who are silently affected by poliovirus and are potentially carrying and spreading it throughout their communities,” she added.

From BBC

There have also been outbreaks of poliovirus variants - strains related to the oral vaccine - in more than 30 countries around the world, particularly in areas where immunisation rates are low.

From BBC

"The nOPV2 vaccine is expected to effectively interrupt poliovirus transmission and thus markedly reduce the risk of seeding further polio outbreaks," Medford said.

From Salon

In recent weeks, traces of the poliovirus - which is spread through faecal matter - have been detected in sewage samples collected in the southern city of Khan Younis and central town of Deir al-Balah.

From BBC