Arbovirus

/ˌɑːrboʊˈvaɪrəs/ noun

A virus that is transmitted by arthropod vectors like mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects, causing diseases like dengue fever and Zika.

Portmanteau of 'arthropod-borne virus,' coined in the mid-20th century when virologists needed a term for this class of pathogens spread by insects rather than through direct contact.

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