Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
virulence
noun
/ˈvɪr.jʊ.ləns/
Definition
Virulence refers to the severity or harmfulness of a disease or its pathogens.
Examples
- The virulence of the influenza virus can lead to severe outbreaks.
- Scientists study the virulence of bacteria to develop better vaccines.
- Increased virulence can make a common illness much more dangerous.
Meaning
The term describes how aggressive or infectious a pathogen is, often in relation to its ability to cause disease in a host.
Synonyms
- Pathogenicity
- Infectiousness
- Toxigenicity
