variola major

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: 1. A highly contagious and often fatal viral disease: Variola major is the severe and most common form of smallpox, caused by the Variola major virus. It is characterized by high fever, severe prostration, and a distinctive skin rash that progresses to pustules, which form scabs and often leave permanent scars. 2. The virus causing this disease: The term also refers to the specific virus strain (Variola major virus) itself, which is responsible for the classic, severe form of smallpox.

Usage Examples
  • Noun (Disease):
    • Before its eradication, variola major was a feared disease with a high mortality rate.
    • The patient was diagnosed with variola major, exhibiting the characteristic rash and high fever.
  • Noun (Virus):
    • The variola major virus is a member of the orthopoxvirus family.
    • Research on the variola major strain is restricted to high-security laboratories.
Advanced Usage
  • Medical/Historical Context: The term is primarily used in medical, historical, and public health contexts to distinguish the classic, severe form of smallpox from the milder form, variola minor.
    • The global eradication campaign successfully targeted both variola major and variola minor.
Variants and Related Words
  • Variola (n): The medical genus name for the smallpox virus; often used synonymously with smallpox itself.
  • Variola minor (n): The milder strain of the smallpox virus, associated with a much lower fatality rate.
  • Smallpox (n): The common name for the disease caused by variola viruses.
  • Orthopoxvirus (n): The genus of viruses that includes variola, vaccinia, cowpox, and monkeypox.
Synonyms
  • Smallpox (common name for the disease)
  • Speckled monster (historical, archaic term for smallpox)
Notes on Meaning

This term has two closely related meanings: 1. The disease itself, known for its severity and historical impact. 2. The specific viral agent that causes that disease. The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Noun
  1. a type of smallpox virus that has a fatality rate of up to 25 percent
  2. a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and weakness and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs that slough off leaving scars

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ chứa "variola major"