vaccinia

One entry found for vaccinia.

Main Entry: vac·cin·ia
Pronunciation: vak-'si-nE-&
Function: noun
Etymology: New Latin, from vaccinus
1 : a poxvirus (species Vaccinia virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus) that differs from but is closely related to the viruses causing smallpox and cowpox and that includes a strain of uncertain natural origin used in making vaccines against smallpox -- called also vaccinia virus
2 : a reaction to smallpox vaccine prepared from live vaccinia virus that may involve a rash, fever, headache, and body pain
- vac·cin·i·al /-nE-&l/ adjective