viral infection

Cultural  

1. An infection caused by a virus. At present, viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. (Compare bacterial infection.)

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Diseases caused by viral infections include herpes, chicken pox, hepatitis, influenza, and the common cold.

Example Sentences

There was citrus canker, a viral infection that had plagued citrus for years prior to the arrival of greening.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

If you’ve had a recent viral infection, some evidence suggests the antiviral interferon response stays active, making it easier for your body to mount a quick defense against the next virus, Foxman said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to both acute and chronic illness.

From Salon • Dec. 12, 2025

In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Americans that all newborns should be vaccinated against hepatitis B, a viral infection that can eventually lead to cancer or liver failure.

From Barron's • Dec. 3, 2025

It is my medical opinion that in Hawaii you had an episode of myocarditis triggered by a viral infection.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon