This list includes 21 Viruses that start with M, from “Machupo virus” to “Myxoma virus”. These entries highlight human pathogens, animal viruses, and research-relevant agents. They are useful for clinical reference, epidemiology, laboratory study, and wildlife management.
Viruses that start with M are viruses whose common or scientific names begin with the letter M and include human, animal, and research-related pathogens. One notable example is Myxoma virus, which was historically introduced to control rabbit populations and shaped studies of host–pathogen dynamics.
Below you’ll find the table with Classification, Affects humans?, Symptoms, and Transmission method.
Classification: Shows the ICTV family/genus/species so you can place the virus in its taxonomic context.
Affects humans?: Indicates whether the virus infects humans and gives a short qualifier like zoonotic or opportunistic.
Symptoms: Lists common or typical clinical presentations in five to ten words so you quickly recognize disease patterns.
Transmission method: Summarizes how the virus spreads (vector, contact, respiratory, or other) so you assess risk and control measures.
Viruses that start with M
| Name | Classification (family/genus/species) | Affects humans? | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles virus | Paramyxoviridae / Morbillivirus / Measles morbillivirus | Yes / Highly contagious | Respiratory droplets |
| Mumps virus | Paramyxoviridae / Orthorubulavirus / Mumps orthorubulavirus | Yes / Primarily human | Respiratory droplets, saliva |
| Marburg virus | Filoviridae / Marburgvirus / Marburg marburgvirus | Yes / Severe hemorrhagic | Contact with body fluids, zoonotic (bats) |
| Mpox virus | Poxviridae / Orthopoxvirus / Mpox virus | Yes / Zoonotic/human-to-human | Close contact, skin lesions, respiratory droplets |
| Molluscum contagiosum virus | Poxviridae / Molluscipoxvirus / Molluscum contagiosum virus | Yes / Primarily human | Direct skin contact, fomites |
| Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus | Coronaviridae / Betacoronavirus / Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus | Yes / Zoonotic | Respiratory droplets, close contact |
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus | Flaviviridae / Flavivirus / Murray Valley encephalitis virus | Yes / Mosquito-borne | Mosquito-borne (Culex species) |
| Mayaro virus | Togaviridae / Alphavirus / Mayaro virus | Yes / Mosquito-borne | Mosquito-borne (Haemagogus, Aedes possible) |
| Machupo virus | Arenaviridae / Mammarenavirus / Machupo mammarenavirus | Yes / Zoonotic | Rodent-borne (aerosols, contact) |
| Marituba virus | Peribunyaviridae / Orthobunyavirus / Marituba orthobunyavirus | No / Primarily animal | Likely mosquito-borne |
| Mapputta virus | Peribunyaviridae / Orthobunyavirus / Mapputta orthobunyavirus | No / Primarily animal | Mosquito-borne |
| Mokola lyssavirus | Rhabdoviridae / Lyssavirus / Mokola lyssavirus | Yes / Rare zoonotic | Likely mammal bites/exposure |
| Modoc virus | Flaviviridae / Flavivirus / Modoc virus | No / Animal-associated | Presumed mosquito-borne |
| Merkel cell polyomavirus | Polyomaviridae / Alphapolyomavirus / Merkel cell polyomavirus | Yes / Oncogenic opportunistic | Presumed skin contact |
| Monkey B virus | Herpesviridae / Simplexvirus / Macacine alphaherpesvirus 1 | Yes / Zoonotic/severe | Bites, scratches, macaque exposure |
| Mojiang henipavirus | Paramyxoviridae / Henipavirus / Mojiang henipavirus | Yes / Zoonotic | Presumed rodent exposure |
| Myxoma virus | Poxviridae / Leporipoxvirus / Myxoma virus | No / Primarily animal | Arthropod vectors, direct contact |
| Mammalian orthoreovirus | Reoviridae / Orthoreovirus / Mammalian orthoreovirus | Yes / Often mild or asymptomatic | Fecal–oral, respiratory possible |
| Megrivirus A | Picornaviridae / Megrivirus / Megrivirus A | No / Primarily avian | Unknown/avian transmission |
| Maporal orthohantavirus | Hantaviridae / Orthohantavirus / Maporal orthohantavirus | No / Primarily rodent-associated | Rodent-borne |
| Maraba virus | Rhabdoviridae / Vesiculovirus / Maraba virus | No / Primarily animal/research | Likely arthropod or rodent-associated |
Descriptions
Measles virus
Causes high‑fever rash illness with cough, coryza and conjunctivitis; can lead to pneumonia or encephalitis; vaccine-preventable.
Mumps virus
Produces parotitis (swollen salivary glands), fever and sometimes orchitis or meningitis; vaccine-preventable.
Marburg virus
Causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever with high fatality, bleeding, organ failure and shock.
Mpox virus
Fever, painful rash and lymph node swelling; zoonotic from rodents/primates with human-to-human spread in close contact.
Molluscum contagiosum virus
Common skin virus causing small, painless, pearly papules; often in children or sexually active adults.
Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
Severe respiratory disease with fever and cough; pneumonia and high case fatality historically; linked to camels.
Murray Valley encephalitis virus
Can cause encephalitis, headache and fever; occurs in Australia and can be severe.
Mayaro virus
Causes fever and prolonged joint pain similar to chikungunya; found in parts of South America.
Machupo virus
Bolivian hemorrhagic fever with fever, bleeding and shock; rodent reservoir, severe disease in humans.
Marituba virus
An orthobunyavirus from South America; detected in animals and mosquitoes with limited human disease data.
Mapputta virus
Australian orthobunyavirus found in mosquitoes; occasional serologic evidence in humans but limited clinical reports.
Mokola lyssavirus
A lyssavirus causing rare rabies‑like encephalitis in humans; linked to small mammals in Africa.
Modoc virus
Rodent-associated flavivirus with little evidence of human disease; mainly of ecological/research interest.
Merkel cell polyomavirus
Widespread skin virus implicated in Merkel cell carcinoma, especially in older or immunosuppressed people.
Monkey B virus
Common in macaques but can cause rare, often fatal encephalitis in humans after exposure to macaque bodily fluids.
Mojiang henipavirus
Identified after fatal pneumonia cases in miners; related to henipaviruses with limited human data.
Myxoma virus
Causes lethal myxomatosis in rabbits; not considered a human pathogen.
Mammalian orthoreovirus
Commonly infects mammals; usually asymptomatic or causes mild respiratory/GI symptoms, occasionally more severe.
Megrivirus A
A picornavirus group that includes avian viruses; limited evidence for human infection or disease.
Maporal orthohantavirus
Hantavirus identified in Venezuela associated with rodents; limited or no clear human disease records.
Maraba virus
Rhabdovirus isolated in Brazil; used experimentally as an oncolytic agent, limited human disease evidence.