Acting to prevent, inhibit, or destroy viruses; a drug or substance that fights viral infections.
From 'anti-' (against) and 'viral' (from Latin 'virus,' poison). The term gained prominence with medical advances in the 20th century, especially after antibiotics were discovered.
Antivirals became household words during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they've been fighting viruses like herpes and influenza for decades—they work by blocking viruses from entering or reproducing in cells.
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