Varicella Zoster Virus (Noun)
Meaning
The member of the herpes virus family that is responsible for chickenpox.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The varicella-zoster virus is a highly contagious member of the herpes virus family that is responsible for chickenpox in children and shingles in adults.
- Varicella-zoster virus is primarily spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing the virus into the environment.
- After a person recovers from chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life to cause shingles.
- The varicella-zoster virus is responsible for an estimated 4 million cases of chickenpox in the United States each year, with the majority of cases occurring in children under the age of 10.
- The varicella-zoster virus can cause serious complications in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer or HIV/AIDS.