This list includes 12 viruses that start with W, from “WU polyomavirus” to “Woolly monkey hepatitis B virus”. They include human pathogens and animal viruses important for clinical diagnosis, surveillance, and virology research.

Viruses that start with W are a varied group of RNA and DNA viruses spanning several families. Notable examples include West Nile virus, first identified in 1937, which highlighted mosquito-borne disease risks.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Classification, Affects humans?, Symptoms and Transmission.

Name: The virus name shown, often in both common and scientific forms; you use it to quickly identify each pathogen.

Classification: Family, genus and species where available, useful for understanding related viruses and likely clinical behavior.

Affects humans?: Shows Yes or No with a brief qualifier, so you know human infection likelihood or zoonotic status.

Symptoms: Lists typical clinical features in five to ten words so you get a quick sense of common presentations.

Transmission: States the main route succinctly so you can assess spread patterns and prevention priorities.

Viruses that start with W

NameClassification (Family/Genus/Species)Affects humans?Symptoms
West Nile virusFlaviviridae/Flavivirus/West Nile virusYes — zoonoticFever, headache, rash; sometimes encephalitis
Western equine encephalitis virusTogaviridae/Alphavirus/Western equine encephalitis virusYes — zoonoticFever, headache, seizures, encephalitis in severe cases
West Caucasian bat lyssavirusRhabdoviridae/Lyssavirus/West Caucasian bat lyssavirusYes — zoonotic potentialFever, agitation, progressive encephalitis signs
Wesselsbron virusFlaviviridae/Flavivirus/Wesselsbron virusYes — zoonoticFever, headache, muscle aches; usually mild
Whitewater Arroyo mammarenavirusArenaviridae/Mammarenavirus/Whitewater Arroyo mammarenavirusYes — zoonoticFever, hemorrhagic signs, multi-organ involvement possible
WU polyomavirusPolyomaviridae/Wukipolyomavirus/WU polyomavirusYes — opportunisticCough, fever, wheeze; often asymptomatic
Woodchuck hepatitis virusHepadnaviridae/Orthohepadnavirus/Woodchuck hepatitis virusNo — animal modelChronic hepatitis, liver tumors in woodchucks
White spot syndrome virusNimaviridae/Whispovirus/White spot syndrome virusNo — crustacean pathogenWhite shell spots, lethargy, high shrimp mortality
Watermelon mosaic virusPotyviridae/Potyvirus/Watermelon mosaic virusNo — plant pathogenMosaic leaf patterns, fruit distortion, stunted growth
Wheat streak mosaic virusPotyviridae/Tritimovirus/Wheat streak mosaic virusNo — plant pathogenYellow streaks on leaves, stunting, yield loss
Walleye dermal sarcoma virusRetroviridae/Epsilonretrovirus/Walleye dermal sarcoma virusNo — fish pathogenSkin tumors on walleye, often seasonal
Woolly monkey hepatitis B virusHepadnaviridae/Orthohepadnavirus/Woolly monkey hepatitis B virusNo — primate virusLiver inflammation, chronic hepatitis in monkeys

Descriptions

West Nile virus
Mosquito-borne flavivirus causing fever and occasionally severe neuroinvasive disease; spread mainly by Culex mosquitoes.
Western equine encephalitis virus
Mosquito-transmitted alphavirus causing encephalitis in humans and horses; spread via infected mosquitoes from birds and mammals.
West Caucasian bat lyssavirus
A bat lyssavirus related to rabies; transmitted by bat bites or contact, causes rabies-like disease in mammals.
Wesselsbron virus
An African mosquito-borne flavivirus causing febrile illness in humans and livestock; spread primarily by mosquitoes.
Whitewater Arroyo mammarenavirus
A rodent-associated arenavirus linked to rare human hemorrhagic disease; transmission through rodent excreta aerosols or contact.
WU polyomavirus
A human polyomavirus found in respiratory samples; role in disease unclear, may affect immunocompromised people.
Woodchuck hepatitis virus
A hepadnavirus infecting woodchucks, used as a model for HBV; transmits via blood and bodily fluids among animals.
White spot syndrome virus
A devastating shrimp virus causing mass die-offs in aquaculture; spreads via water, contaminated equipment, and infected animals.
Watermelon mosaic virus
A common potyvirus of cucurbits spread by aphids and mechanical contact; affects melons and related crops.
Wheat streak mosaic virus
A cereal virus transmitted by the wheat curl mite; causes yellow streaking, stunting, and yield loss in wheat.
Walleye dermal sarcoma virus
A retrovirus causing benign skin tumors in walleye fish; transmission likely via parasitic copepods or direct contact.
Woolly monkey hepatitis B virus
A hepadnavirus infecting woolly monkeys, related to human HBV; transmits through blood and fluids among primates.
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