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slow virus
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slow virus

infectious agent
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A "slow virus" refers to an infectious agent, now often considered a prion, that causes diseases with a long incubation period between infection and the appearance of symptoms. These agents lead to slowly developing, progressive illnesses after a period of latency within the body. Unlike acute viral infections that cause rapid illness, slow virus infections are characterized by their prolonged, gradual onset. Examples include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, linked to the measles virus, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, caused by a polyoma virus.1234

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. slow virus
  2. virus - Chronic and slowly progressive diseases
  3. nervous system disease - Slow viruses
  4. virus - Treatment

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