Flaviviridae facts for kids

The Flaviviridae are a group of tiny viruses. They are mostly spread by small creatures like ticks and mosquitoes. The name Flaviviridae comes from the Yellow Fever virus, which is a well-known virus in this family. Flavus means "yellow" in Latin, referring to the yellow fever disease.

What are Flaviviridae?

The Flaviviridae are a family of viruses. Think of a family as a group of viruses that are similar to each other. These viruses often cause diseases in humans and animals. They are special because they usually need an "arthropod vector" to move from one host to another. This means they are carried by tiny creatures like ticks and mosquitoes. When these insects bite, they can pass the virus to people or animals.

How are Flaviviruses Spread?

Many viruses in the Flaviviridae family are spread by insects. For example, mosquitoes can pick up the virus from an infected person or animal. Then, when that mosquito bites another person, it can pass the virus to them. Ticks can also spread some of these viruses in a similar way. This is why these viruses are sometimes called "arboviruses," which means "arthropod-borne viruses."

Important Genera of Flaviviridae

The Flaviviridae family is divided into different groups called genera (plural of genus). Each genus contains viruses that are closely related. The main genera in this family are:

• Flavivirus: This genus includes many well-known viruses. The Yellow Fever virus is a famous example. Other important viruses in this group are West Nile virus and Dengue fever virus. These viruses are often spread by mosquitoes.
• Hepacivirus: This genus includes viruses that can affect the liver. The most famous one is the Hepatitis C virus.
• Pestivirus: Viruses in this genus mostly infect animals. They can cause diseases in livestock like pigs and cattle.

Images for kids

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  Phylogenetic tree of Flaviviridae using the NS3 protein sequences

See also

In Spanish: Flaviviridae para niños