variola minor

7.0

A mild type of smallpox that usually causes less severe sickness and few deaths

noun
/ˌvɛrɪˈoʊlə ˈmaɪnər/

Specialized

: variola menor

In outbreaks, variola minor has a significantly lower mortality rate compared to variola major.

Examples

And that is that there were three species of the genus of Orthopox viruses, Variola major, Variola minor and cowpox.
The vaccine for smallpox specifically targets variola minor, which causes milder symptoms than its more severe counterpart.
Her doctor explained that she was infected with variola minor, a less serious type of smallpox.

Synonyms

smallpox

vsvariola minor

Specialized

77 3.9

A very contagious disease that causes fever and many skin sores that leave scars

represents a milder illness caused by a less dangerous strain with low fatality

smallpox virus

vsvariola minor

Specialized

3 3.9

A tiny germ that causes the serious disease smallpox in people

is a milder strain causing far fewer deaths and less severe illness

variola

vsvariola minor

Specialized

1 9.9

A serious contagious viral disease that causes fever, a rash with pus-filled bumps, and can be fatal

is a milder form with much lower death rates than the full disease

white pox

vsvariola minor

Specialized

1 9.9

A less serious form of smallpox that causes small sores and a mild fever

is the general term for the mild illness rather than a regional name

variola virus

vsvariola minor

Specialized

1 5.9

A very small germ that causes smallpox in people

is a milder strain causing far lower death rates and less severity

variola minor virus

vsvariola minor

Specialized

6.7

A milder form of smallpox that kills about one person in a hundred

emphasizes the mild illness rather than the specific virus strain

alastrim

vsvariola minor

Archaic

9.9

A mild form of smallpox with less severe symptoms

is the general term for the mild illness rather than a regional name

milk pox

vsvariola minor

Archaic

9.9

A mild form of smallpox caused by a weaker virus strain

is the general term for the mild illness rather than a regional name

pseudosmallpox

vsvariola minor

Specialized

9.9

A milder form of smallpox caused by a weaker virus

is the general term for the mild illness rather than a regional name

pseudovariola

vsvariola minor

Specialized

9.9

A mild form of smallpox that makes people less sick than usual

is the general term for the mild illness rather than a regional name

Cuban itch

vsvariola minor

Archaic

9.9

A mild form of smallpox caused by a weaker virus

is the general term for the mild illness rather than a regional name

West Indian smallpox

vsvariola minor

Archaic

9.1

A mild form of a serious disease that causes fever and skin blisters, seen historically in the West Indies

is the general term for the mild illness rather than a historical regional label

Antonyms

variola major

Specialized

1 9.2

A severe, common form of smallpox that often caused fever, many skin sores, and many deaths

How Severe

variola major virus

Specialized

7.7

smallpox

Specialized

77 3.9

West Indian smallpox

Archaic

9.1

variola minor

Specialized

7.0

Surface Forms

variola minor singular

variola minors plural

Morphology

variola + minor

Assuming the learner knows 'variola' (smallpox) and 'minor' (less severe), the meaning 'a mild form of smallpox' is directly and compositionally derived from the constituents. The adjective 'minor' transparently signals lower severity and this Latin medical naming pattern is cross-linguistically regular, so the compound is readily inferable from its parts.

Etymology

Variola minor comes from Latin words: variola meant a small pimple or 'pox' and minor means 'smaller'. So the name was used for the milder form of 'smallpox'.