hypervirulent

/ˌhaɪpərˈvɪrələnt/
adjective
  1. Describing a microorganism, especially a bacterium or virus, that is unusually aggressive or causes severe disease more easily than normal strains.
    • Scientists are studying a hypervirulent strain of the bacteria that has caused several outbreaks.
    • Hospitals have special protocols to handle hypervirulent infections that resist standard treatments.
    • The hypervirulent virus spread quickly and led to more severe symptoms in patients.