This list includes 10 Viruses that start with R, from “Rabies virus” to “Rustrela virus”. They include well-known human pathogens, zoonoses, and research-model viruses studied for diagnostics and prevention.
Viruses that start with R are a varied set of RNA and DNA viruses, many with zoonotic origins. Notably, “Rabies virus” inspired Louis Pasteur’s pioneering vaccine work in the 1880s.
Below you’ll find the table with Virus, Classification, Affects humans?, Symptoms, and Transmission.
Virus: The virus name helps you quickly identify each entry and locate detailed information about that pathogen.
Classification: Shows the official family and genus so you can see related viruses and expected characteristics.
Affects humans?: Indicates whether the virus infects people, with a short qualifier like “zoonotic” or “opportunistic”.
Symptoms: Lists common clinical presentations in concise terms so you can recognize typical disease patterns.
Transmission: Describes main routes of spread so you can assess risk and likely prevention or control measures.
Viruses that start with R
| Name | Classification (ICTV: Family/Genus/Species) | Affects humans? | Transmission (principal method) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabies virus | Rhabdoviridae / Lyssavirus / Rabies lyssavirus | Yes (zoonotic) | Animal bite/saliva |
| Rubella virus | Matonaviridae / Rubivirus / Rubivirus rubella | Yes (human-specific) | Respiratory droplets |
| Respiratory syncytial virus | Pneumoviridae / Orthopneumovirus / Human orthopneumovirus | Yes (human-specific; infants at high risk) | Respiratory droplets/fomites |
| Rhinovirus | Picornaviridae / Enterovirus / Rhinovirus A/B/C | Yes (human-specific) | Respiratory droplets/fomites |
| Rotavirus | Reoviridae / Rotavirus / Rotavirus A | Yes (human-specific; some zoonotic strains) | Fecal–oral |
| Rift Valley fever virus | Phenuiviridae / Phlebovirus / Rift Valley fever phlebovirus | Yes (zoonotic) | Mosquito-borne (also contact with animals) |
| Ross River virus | Togaviridae / Alphavirus / Ross River virus | Yes (zoonotic) | Mosquito-borne |
| Reovirus (mammalian orthoreovirus) | Reoviridae / Orthoreovirus / Mammalian orthoreovirus | Yes (occasionally; usually mild) | Fecal–oral and respiratory |
| Rous sarcoma virus | Retroviridae / Alpharetrovirus / Rous sarcoma virus | No (avian-specific; historically important) | Direct contact/vertical transmission in birds |
| Rustrela virus | Matonaviridae / Rubivirus / Rustrela virus | No (no confirmed human cases) | Likely mammal-to-mammal spillover (unknown) |